Dear Excellencies, Dear Ms Yespayeva, colleagues and friends,

I would like to thank Kazakhstan for organising this International Conference and the invitation to participate. I am glad to be in Astana!

I would also like to congratulate Kazakhstan for a successful Chairmanship of the Women’s Dialogue for Central Asia this year.

It is not so long ago that I addressed you at your Conference “Women, Peace and Security” in Almaty, where you also discussed opportunities to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the region. We also met only a few weeks ago during the Women Leaders Caucus visit to Brussels on 13 – 15 November.  Allow me to say that I was honoured to host you, together with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Kaha Imnadze. I believe this visit provided an unique opportunity – to engage closer with each other and with the EU on topics and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and, on tackling gender-based violence and harassment, as well as women’s economic empowerment and their role in innovation.

Gender equality is a core value of the EU. The promotion of gender equality is a task for the Union, in all its activities, including in external action. Over the past years EU has demonstrated as unwavering dedication to foster an environment where all individuals, regardless of their gender, can live free from violence and discrimination.

This summer EU ratified accession to Istanbul Convention, which in many countries, including those in EU, is a catalyst for action. I would like to note that the process of the EU to ratify the Convention did not happen overnight, it took several years.  And while recognizing uniqueness of each and every EU Member State and respecting their national competence when it comes to law enforcement, this overarching step to ratify the Convention at EU level bears a lot of symbolism.

Symbolism that every human has the right to life, to human dignity, the right to non-discrimination, and symbolism that gender-based violence and discrimination based on gender is not tolerated in the EU.  And these symbolic steps matter. They unite us and bring us towards positive change.

The EU recognizes the importance of international cooperation in addressing gender-based violence, to share best practices and to ensure a coordinated response at international level. And I believe the recent visit to Brussels I just mentioned, a common visit of representatives of the state bodies including many parliamentarians together with civil society representatives, fostered this international cooperation and coordination.  The visit not only allowed the Central Asian participants to get an inside of the practices of the EU and to build up your networks, but equally for the EU interlocutors you met, to learn from the experiences of Central Asian countries. It is this kind of exchange, which I think can help us to closely work together for our common goals.

I am positively inspired by the achievements, including legislative steps taken by our partners, in addressing gender equality related topics and I hope that we all found some answers and maybe more importantly new questions during the study trip. It was important to have Central Asian representatives from these two central pillars, parliament and civil society, in Brussels.

Parliament holds the responsibility of enacting laws that create the framework for addressing gender-bases violence. And in the case of female parliamentarians – I think that you are the role models for the change when it comes to combatting violence against women.  And civil society plays a crucial role in advocating for women’s rights, raising awareness including on the concrete situation in our societies, and holding both the government and society accountable. Together you act as a bridge between citizens and policymakers, ensuring that the voices of those affected are heard.

The effects of COVID-19, the Russian war against Ukraine, the conflict in Middle East and other geopolitical turbulences might slow down our actions, but should not interrupt them.  Your work and dedication shows the impetus to implement our joint vision for a gender equal world.  And by dismantling stereotypes, fostering inclusivity, and promoting equal opportunities, we pave the way for a society where everyone, regardless of their gender can thrive. I hope we will continue cooperation in this Women’s format with the aim to unlock the full potential of our communities and to further integrate the crucial role of women in all aspects of policy-making and the development of economy.

Together we can shape a future where every women’s voice is not only heard, but where she actively shapes the innovative and empowered societies we strive to build.

I wish you all a successful conference!