Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum and Plenary Session “Women for Confidence Building and Global Cooperation”
20 September 2024
The Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum (EWF) and the plenary session “Women for Confidence Building and Global Cooperation” were held from 18 to 20 September in St. Petersburg at the Tavricheskiy Palace. The forum participants were welcomed by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Opening the event, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum Valentina Matvienko thanked all the forum participants who “crossed oceans and seas” to take part in the events of the EWF and mentioned that it is women who should be at the forefront of building a more just and equitable multipolar world order.
Speaking at the plenary session, Valentina Matvienko proposed to establish the title “Ambassador of the Eurasian Women's Forum” and give this honorable and responsible title to the most active and permanent participants of the summit. According to the Speaker, in the Russian Federation the share of women among entrepreneurs in the social sphere already reaches 90%, in the service sector – 58%. The index of women's entrepreneurial activity at the end of last year approached 74%, which was the highest indicator for the last 10 years.
Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova made a report at the plenary session, according to which every second leader in Belarus is a woman, and the share of women in the parliament is 36%.
Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva noted in her speech that Uzbekistan elevates the interests of women to the rank of state policy. The Speaker said that in the upcoming parliamentary elections this year, the minimum quota for the number of women candidates has been raised to 40%.
According to Deputy Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Jamili Isaeva, the country attaches great importance to gender equality issues.
Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Dilrabo Mansuri said that the President and the Government of the country pay special attention to the status and role of women in society.
The plenary session also included speeches by speakers and vice-speakers of parliaments, vice-presidents, representatives of ministries, leaders of industry associations from Laos, Zimbabwe, Qatar, Zambia, Cuba, Afghanistan, France, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, UAE, Bahrain, Nepal and Moldova.
Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitriy Kobitskiy took part in the plenary session of the forum.
Valentina Matvienko addressed the open session of the Women's G20 (W20), noting that the cooperation between the Eurasian Women's Forum and the Women's G20 has already lasted nine years, and with their appearance the influence of women on international politics has been significantly strengthened. Valentina Matvienko supported the initiative of the Brazilian presidency to make the issues of entrepreneurship, women's involvement in science and technology, development of the care economy, combating violence against women, as well as addressing environmental issues as key priorities of the W20.
Heads of parliaments of the Commonwealth countries met on the margins of the IV Eurasian Women's Forum. Thus, Valentina Matviyenko and Natalya Kochanova held a meeting. Valentina Matvienko drew attention to the fact that this year is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus, and next year the countries will jointly celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Natalya Kochanova emphasized that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
Also on the margins of the forum, Natalya Kochanova held a meeting with Tanzila Narbaeva. Natalya Kochanova noted that the Belarusian-Uzbek parliamentary relations had reached an absolutely new level. Tanzila Narbaeva said that Belarus and Uzbekistan would open new areas of cooperation.
Within the framework of the IV Eurasian Women's Forum, a number of thematic sessions were held, including: “Innovation and collaboration among women: the key to public health”, ‘Women managing climate risks”, “Awareness as a Guarantee of Health and Social Welfare”, “International mentoring experience: traditional approaches and modern trends”, “Women for human rights across the Globe” and others. The session “Women Scientists – Leaders in Science and Education” considered successful practices of increasing the attractiveness of scientific careers for young women researchers. The event was conducted by Russian MP, Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Science and Education Lilia Gumerova. Russian MPs – Konstantin Kosachev, Grigoriy Karasin, Lyubov Glebova - became participants of the dialog of women diplomats and political scientists “Diplomacy and Geopolitics of the 21st Century: Women’s Perspective on Solving Global Problems”.
On the margins of the forum, Chairperson of the EWF Council, Senator Galina Karelova and Chairperson of the Community of Women Parliamentarians of Africa and Arab countries Jihad Abdallah Al-Fadel signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The purpose of the Memorandum is to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation in various areas.
