Diene Keita: Uzbekistan has made important progress in advancing gender equality and strengthening the response to violence against women

Arriving in Uzbekistan to participate in the Second Asian Women’s Forum in Bukhara, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Diene Keita, answered questions from a correspondent of “Dunyo” IA:

 Uzbekistan has significant demographic potential, particularly due to its young population, and is taking active steps to harness it for development. How do you assess Uzbekistan’s experience in realizing its demographic dividend, and what factors are key to ensuring its sustainable use?

— Uzbekistan is at a defining demographic moment. With more than 38 million people, with youth over 55%, and continued growth projected in the decades ahead, the country has a rare opportunity to turn its demographic potential into a powerful engine of development, innovation and inclusive growth.

What is particularly encouraging is that Uzbekistan is showing a true commitment to investing in the potential of its young people. Demographic change is not being treated simply as a challenge to manage, but as a strategic opportunity and asset for national development. Under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, the country has advanced comprehensive reforms focused on human capital, including expanded access to education, strengthened health systems, poverty reduction, gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and stronger use of population data for planning.

The results are already visible. Among the most notable achievements: poverty fell from 8.9% to 5.8% within one year, and higher education enrolment increased fivefold over the past decade – from 9% in 2016 to nearly 48% today.

From UNFPA’s perspective, the key message is clear: the demographic dividend is not automatic. It requires sustained investments in young people’s education, skills, health, and employment opportunities.

Their ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives is directly linked to continued education, economic participation, and broader empowerment. Expanding these choices is not only a matter of rights, but also a critical driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

Another critical factor is availability of data for decision making. Data will be the foundation for turning demographic potential into real development gains. The successful conduct of the 2026 Population and Agriculture Census – is a historic milestone for Uzbekistan. Once processed, validated and applied, these data will become a powerful tool for smarter planning: helping the country invest in schools, health services, jobs, housing, infrastructure and social protection, where people live, where needs are greatest, and where future opportunities are emerging.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s experience is highly encouraging. The country has both the demographic potential and the reform momentum needed to turn population dynamics into a driver of sustainable development. The priority now is to ensure that every young person, especially every young woman, has the opportunity to continue to learn, work, make informed life choices and contribute fully to the country’s future.

 In recent years, with the support of UNFPA, Uzbekistan has implemented large-scale projects in maternal and reproductive health. In your view, which approaches and innovations introduced in Uzbekistan are proving most effective in improving the quality and accessibility of these services, especially for women in the regions?

— Uzbekistan has made maternal and reproductive health a clear national priority – and the results are visible. Maternal mortality has fallen from 21 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 10.9 in 2025, and almost all births are now attended by skilled health personnel. This is especially significant in a country where nearly one million children are born in a typical year.

Uzbekistan is not focusing on one intervention alone, but strengthening the whole system – from national standards and skilled health workers to equipment, digital tools, family planning and cancer screening.

Together with the Ministry of Health, UNFPA has supported the modernization of maternal and perinatal quality of care, including updated clinical standards, improved emergency obstetric care, and the provision of life-saving equipment to maternity facilities across the country. Equally important, more than 18,000 health professionals have strengthened their skills through UNFPA-supported programmes, while updated obstetric and perinatal protocols have reached over 40,000 healthcare workers nationwide.

Digitalization is another area supported by UNFPA. Uzbekistan’s digital health reforms, including the National Digital Health Platform and new tools for managing family planning supplies, can help improve forecasting, prevent stock-outs, and ensure that essential commodities are available where women need them. Telemedicine also offers strong potential to bring antenatal care and maternal health consultations closer to women in remote and underserved areas.

Family planning remains a key priority. Since 2023, through our partnership with the government, UNFPA has helped expand access to modern contraceptives across the country. This means more women and families can make informed choices about their health and future.

I would like to specifically acknowledge the landmark commitment made in 2024 to address cervical and breast cancer. This marked a true breakthrough in placing women’s reproductive cancers high on the national agenda. We are witnessing strong progress in prevention and early detection efforts and the expansion of screening at the primary healthcare level. These services are essential for saving lives, improving women’s long-term health, and ensuring that quality healthcare reaches women across all regions of the country.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s experience shows that real progress comes when political commitment is matched with system-wide investment – in people, technology, data, skills, knowledge and partnerships. UNFPA is proud to support these efforts so that every woman, wherever she lives, has not only access to quality maternal and reproductive health services but also decision-making power of her health decisions. As UNFPA we always place the choices of women and girls at the very center of our programmes.

 Uzbekistan places strong emphasis on gender equality and combating violence against women. How do you assess the progress achieved in this area?

— Uzbekistan has made important progress in advancing gender equality and strengthening the response to violence against women and girls. What is especially significant is that these issues are now being treated not only as social concerns, but as central priorities for sustainable development, human rights, social protection and national progress.

A major milestone has been the adoption of legislation criminalizing domestic violence and strengthening protection for survivors. Equally important, these reforms are now being translated into practical systems and services. Under the leadership of the National Agency for Social Protection, Uzbekistan is building a more coordinated and survivor-centred response that brings together social, legal, psychological, healthcare, and protection services to better support survivors and prevent violence.

UNFPA strongly values and supports the country’s efforts to improve referral pathways, introduce standard operating procedures, strengthen multisectoral coordination and build the capacity of frontline professionals. We also welcome the growing focus on inclusion, particularly ensuring that women and girls with disabilities can access protection and support.

Another encouraging area is prevention. Uzbekistan increasingly recognizes that ending violence requires changing harmful social norms and stereotypes. Through joint efforts, we are strengthening the engagement of mahallas, youth, men and boys, religious leaders, parliamentarians, and civil society. This is essential because violence against women is rooted not only in individual behaviour, but also in unequal power relations and discriminatory attitudes that must be addressed collectively.

Of course, continued efforts are needed – especially in financing, implementation, service quality and long-term prevention. But the direction is clear: Uzbekistan is building a stronger foundation for a society where every woman and girl can live free from violence and any type of discrimination, participate equally and realize her full potential.

 As is known, you will take part in the Second Asian Women’s Forum in Bukhara. How do you assess the importance of this platform for advancing women’s rights and empowerment, and what practical outcomes do you expect from the forum?

— The Second Asian Women’s Forum in Bukhara is more than a regional event – it is a powerful global platform for shaping the future of women’s leadership, rights and opportunities across Asia and beyond.

The fact that this Forum is growing into a platform for regional cooperation on women’s rights and inclusive development reflects the importance of sharing lessons and exchanging ideas to accelerate progress on these issues.

The Forum comes at a critical moment. Across Asia, countries are facing major demographic, economic, technological and social transformations. In this context, investing in women and girls is not only the right thing to do – it is one of the smartest investments countries can make for sustainable development, resilience and peace.

I see the Forum as a space where dialogue can turn into action. It brings together political leaders, parliamentarians, experts, development partners, civil society, youth and women leaders to exchange solutions, build partnerships and move forward with concrete commitments.

For UNFPA, the Forum is particularly important as we bring global experience in addressing population dynamics in connection to health and gender equality. We support countries to design evidence-based policies and strengthen systems that empower women and young people. At this Forum, we are contributing to discussions on how to translate these priorities into practical solutions that improve lives.

We have to acknowledge that women and girls remain the largest untapped source of human capital in the region and globally. In this context, gender equality is not only a goal – it is the most powerful accelerator of the demographic dividend: a window of opportunity that can drive growth, resilience, and shared prosperity

Investing in women and girls is the smartest investment any country can make. When we place the rights and choices of women and girls in the center of development, societies become more resilient, inclusive and prosperous.

I also welcome the Forum’s attention to emerging issues, including women’s participation in innovation, technology and artificial intelligence, as well as the growing challenge of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. As our societies become more digital, protecting women’s rights and safety online must become a priority.

I hope the practical outcomes of the Forum will include stronger regional partnerships, new policy commitments, greater investment in women and girls, and concrete initiatives that countries can take forward together.

I am confident that the Bukhara Forum Declaration will send a clear message: gender equality is not a sectoral issue – it is a strategic driver of national development, human capital and social resilience.

UNFPA is proud to co-host this important platform with the government of Uzbekistan and partners, and we commend Uzbekistan for creating space for such an ambitious and forward-looking regional and global dialogue.

 Your visit to Uzbekistan takes place against the backdrop of rapidly developing cooperation with UNFPA. What are your key expectations from this visit, and which new areas of partnership do you see emerging in the near future?

— My visit to Uzbekistan comes at a very important moment - when the partnership between Uzbekistan and UNFPA is growing not only in scale, but also in strategic ambition. I come with deep respect for the reforms underway in the country and with a strong commitment to further strengthening our cooperation. UNFPA has been present in Uzbekistan since 1993 and this year our 6th Country Programme started. It is ambitious, focused on human capital investment and fully based on national priorities.

My key expectation is to see first-hand how Uzbekistan’s reforms are improving people’s lives, especially the lives of women, young people, families, and communities. I truly look forward to engaging with government partners, parliamentarians, civil society, youth, and development partners to understand how UNFPA can best support Uzbekistan’s priorities in the years ahead.

Uzbekistan is entering a decisive stage of development. The country is investing in human capital, strengthening social protection systems, advancing women’s empowerment, modernizing healthcare, finalizing its historic population census, and placing demographic resilience at the centre of policymaking. These are exactly the areas where UNFPA’s global expertise brings practical value by supporting evidence-based policies, inclusive development, and long-term sustainable planning and investments.

My message during this visit is clear: UNFPA is proud to be a trusted partner of Uzbekistan. We are ambitious in deepening our cooperation in support of the country’s reform agenda, its investment in human capital, and its vision of a healthier, equal and resilient future for all.