Baku hosts conference on the role of women in the CICA space
On April 14, a ceremony marking the opening of the international conference titled "Enhancing the Role of Women for Sustainable Development in the CICA Space" took place in Baku.
As reported by AZERTAC, Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Women, and Children Affairs, spoke at the event, noting that Azerbaijan’s contribution to regional security initiatives clearly demonstrates its growing role. She stated that strengthening mutual trust holds special significance within the framework of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), as gender equality, social development, and the empowerment of women are no longer a choice but a necessity.
The head of the committee highlighted that involving women in the digital economy, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, is one of the important steps toward sustainable development. Their direct participation in the digital environment contributes to strengthening social resilience.
"The activities carried out in Azerbaijan in this direction are exemplary. Special importance is placed on increasing women’s activity in sustainable agriculture and other fields, as well as enhancing their leadership potential and improving the effectiveness of implemented policies. Furthermore, their active participation in regional and international platforms creates broader opportunities for dialogue. One of the main goals should be to turn women’s empowerment into real experience and concrete results. The time has come to translate strong initiatives and ongoing activities into practical outcomes," emphasized Bahar Muradova.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Leyla Aliyeva noted that the active participation of women plays a crucial role in societal development: they are successful entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and leaders.
Highlighting that the role of women in Azerbaijan has always been highly valued and respect for them is part of our culture and traditions, L. Aliyeva added: "Women across Azerbaijan are building businesses, leading community initiatives, and making a real impact. Just last year, women accounted for about 50% of Azerbaijan’s employed population, which reflects their active and significant role in our economy."
According to her, it is very gratifying to see Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of CICA actively supporting women’s voices in sustainable development and decision-making. Calling the establishment of the CICA Women’s Council an important initiative, Leyla Aliyeva wished the platform success in turning constructive ideas into real actions.
CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay noted that international and regional organizations are key partners in global efforts to empower women. The Secretary General emphasized that these organizations cannot remain on the sidelines of this process. Multilateral platforms, including CICA, help shape norms, facilitate dialogue, and create conditions for the exchange of best practices among member states.
According to Kairat Sarybay, CICA, which focuses on building trust, economic growth, and cooperation, unites 28 Asian states. Membership in it represents a vast scope in terms of economic development, encompassing nearly half of the world’s population, as well as demographic trends, cultural dynamics, and social structures. "Despite significant progress in Asia over the past decades, women remain underrepresented in politics, economic leadership, peacebuilding, climate change discussions, and many decision-making processes. This makes the topic of today’s conference even more relevant," the Secretary General stressed.
The conference also featured a video message from Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, who noted that the establishment of the CICA Women’s Council deserves high praise. According to her, this important initiative is a significant step toward placing women at the center of sustainable development. The Executive Director expressed confidence that this platform will help ensure women’s voices are heard more clearly, increase their participation in decision-making processes, and strengthen regional cooperation.
It should be noted that the conference will address topics such as "Women’s Entrepreneurship in Small and Medium Businesses: Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization" and "Women’s Leadership in Environmental Protection and Building Resilience."
As part of the conference, the first meeting of the Women’s Council of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia will take place, and the official activation of a mandate aimed at coordination, dialogue, and experience exchange among member states is expected.
