Lachin hosts ECO Women Forum VIDEO
Lachin, July 2, AZERTAC
The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Women Forum was held in Lachin, as part of the inaugural ECO Week, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev.
The forum aimed to foster cross-sectoral cooperation among ECO member countries to empower women across all areas of human development. It also sought to highlight and strengthen women’s roles in building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient societies within the ECO region.
Chairperson of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs, Bahar Muradova, emphasized the forum’s significance in her keynote address, calling it a potential starting point for sustained and systematic regional cooperation on gender equality and sustainable development. She emphasized that hosting the ECO Week and the Women's Forum in Karabakh and East Zangezur for the first time at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev marks a historic milestone.
“Increasing women’s economic participation and ensuring their social well-being are clear indicators of a society’s development. We firmly believe that without economic independence, women's social and political empowerment cannot be fully realized. That is why Azerbaijan consistently puts forward significant initiatives in this field and is ready to share its positive experiences,” Muradova stated.
She highlighted Azerbaijan's support for women entrepreneurs through access to affordable financing, skills development programs, and cooperative models that enhance women's participation in rural economies.
In his address, ECO Deputy Secretary-General Silapberdi Nurberdiyev highlighted ECO’s ongoing efforts to advance gender equality. He underscored that the forum once again focuses on the role of women in building a strong economic society. He noted that the increased participation of women and girls in digital technology and innovation is crucial.
Zulaykho Makhkamova, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Chairperson of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs, proposed organizing a competition to increase the environmental activism of women in ECO member states and holding the first such event in Uzbekistan. She noted that the forum would become a vital venue for dialogue among women leaders.
In their video addresses, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), highlighted the crucial role that women play in driving innovation within the green economy, contributing to sustainable development and climate action.
Subsequently, the forum screened a film titled “Hanifa Malikova-Zardabi Scholarship Program to Support Girls’ Education.”
The forum was followed by panel sessions on the themes "The Role of Women in Human Development for Climate Resilience," "The Role of Women in Urban Development," and "The Role of Women in Sustainable Development."
The panel sessions also discussed topics such as "The Role of Women in Human Development for Climate Sustainability," "Empowering Women, Including Girls, Through Education," and "Digital Inclusion: Innovation and Exchange of Experiences," among others.
ECO Secretary-General Asad Majeed Khan expressed his hope that the fruitful exchange of views at the forum would contribute to building a sustainable and green future, as well as to achieving the goals set by the organization.
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