October 27, 2024 – Elections to the Oliy Majlis and Local Councils of People's Deputies

The upcoming elections on October 27, 2024, for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as for the regional, district, and city councils of people's deputies, represent a significant event in the political life of our country. The modern electoral system, developed gradually over the years of independence, is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which establishes the key principles and legal mechanisms for conducting elections.

In other words, elections play a crucial role in embodying constitutional principles, implementing democratic reforms in the country, and strengthening the role of the Oliy Majlis in state and societal transformations.

Gender equality issues are intricately woven into the processes of political transformation taking place in the country. Women are increasingly participating in political processes as candidates for parliament, members, and activists of political parties, taking on leadership positions. Overall, women make up between 30 to 55 percent of the total composition of political parties. For instance, the Social-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan "Adolat" is led by a woman, and women constitute 54 percent of the party's membership. In the Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Party "Milliy Tiklanish," women hold the positions of deputy party chairpersons. Gradually, the proportion of women among candidates for the Legislative Chamber and local authorities is increasing.

According to the current Electoral Code, the number of women must be at least 40 percent of the candidates nominated by a political party in single-member electoral districts, as well as on the party list.

Moreover, at least two out of five candidates in the sequence on the party list must be women. This data shows that the legislative norm is being fulfilled by all political parties.

The equal participation of women in political and electoral processes is based on the principles of non-discrimination and equal exercise of political rights, as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on Political Rights of Women, which enshrine universal and equal voting rights without discrimination based on gender. According to Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention on Political Rights of Women, they have the right to vote in all elections on an equal basis with men, without any discrimination, and they may also be elected on equal terms, without any discrimination, to all positions established by national law requiring public elections.

Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right of all citizens not only to participate in public and political activities but also to vote and be elected in genuine periodic elections, which must be held on the basis of universal and equal suffrage by secret ballot, ensuring the free expression of the will of voters, as well as access to public service in their country on equal terms.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women affirms the right of women to hold public office and to perform all government functions at all levels of public administration.

In particular, Article 7 stipulates that states parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, ensure women, on an equal basis with men, the right to:

• Vote in all elections and public referenda and to be elected to all publicly elected bodies;
• Participate in the formulation and implementation of government policy and hold public office, as well as perform all government functions at all levels of public administration.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits discrimination based on gender in the exercise of the right to participate in elections, while the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women obligates states to take appropriate measures to eliminate any manifestations of such discrimination. Article 4 of the convention also recommends the use of temporary special measures to accelerate the achievement of Article 7, which is generally aimed at increasing the number of women in elected bodies. This explains the introduction of a 40-percent quota for women in the Electoral Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Thus, this norm serves as an additional guarantee for women's participation in the electoral process.

Women's electoral rights and their guarantees, in accordance with international standards, are established not only in the Electoral Code but also in other legislative acts. The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men" establishes state guarantees for women and men to ensure equality in the exercise of personal, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. It is specifically stated that the state guarantees equal participation of women and men in managing societal and state affairs, as well as in the electoral process.

The "Uzbekistan - 2030" Strategy envisions strengthening the system of support for women, ensuring their rights and legal interests, increasing social, economic, and political activity, and ensuring gender equality, with the aim of raising the proportion of women in leadership positions to 30 percent.

The strategy for achieving gender equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan by 2030, which has defined priority directions of state policy concerning women, includes specific tasks to achieve the goal of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including in the realization of electoral rights, which consist of the following:

• Involving women and men in the electoral processes of political parties on an equal basis, encouraging activities for nominating women to leadership positions;
• Monitoring the provision by political parties of equal rights and opportunities for women and men when nominating candidates for the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and local councils of people's deputies;
• Changing negative societal perceptions of women by increasing their political activity;
• Monitoring the full observance of the rights of women and men to vote and be elected to representative bodies of state authority;
• Ensuring equal representation of women and men in the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, district, city, and local election commissions for conducting elections and referendums.

In the current parliament, the number of women deputies is 32 percent in the Legislative Chamber and 25 percent in the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which a woman leads. This represents a noticeable increase compared to the previous composition of parliament, where the proportion of women was significantly lower. The quantitative growth of women's representation in the political governance system has allowed Uzbekistan to rank 45th among 190 national parliaments in the global ranking published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union "Women in Politics" on January 1, 2023. For the first time in Uzbekistan's history, the number of women in parliament reached a level corresponding to the recommendations of the United Nations.

Thus, the number of seats occupied by women in national parliaments is one of the indicators of progress in achieving gender equality in the public and political life of the country. Therefore, considering the opportunities provided for women's participation in the electoral process, as well as in elected leadership positions, it is quite logical that more and more women can and wish to take advantage of them.

Women leaders serve as examples for others, encouraging their participation in public life as active party members and political figures. At the same time, it is recognized that the increase in the number of women in parliament contributes to the overall strengthening of democracy.

In the run-up to the upcoming elections, one of the priority tasks for achieving equal participation of women in the political governance of Uzbekistan is to enhance voter activity and public awareness of the role of women in representative bodies and their participation in managing societal and state affairs.

Gulnosa Sattorova, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Legislation and Legal Policy under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan