Exhibition and Concert “Cultural Heritage of Women in Uzbekistan”

Mr. Nurmetov,
Ms. Marufova,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

A very warm welcome to you all for the opening of this special photography exhibition and concert dedicated to the Cultural Heritage of Women in Uzbekistan. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for bringing this event to the Palais des Nations, and for sharing their rich cultural and musical heritage here with us tonight.

This cultural event provides a unique insight into the daily lives of women and girls in Uzbekistan. Through these photographs, we discover the national costumes, folklore, wedding and cradle ceremonies, celebrations of centuries old Nowruz spring holiday and various forms of women’s handicraft.

Culture, too, is an indispensable driver of sustainable development. Knowledge, diversity, heritage and creativity are values which are essential to human progress. The cultural heritage of Uzbekistan has been of particular importance to the United Nations, and is well known throughout the world. The country has already four sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the fabled Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. UNESCO has been very instrumental in promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and cultural tourism in the country.

Women’s role in keeping alive ancient traditions, skills and crafts needs no reiteration. The pictures from this exhibition serve as excellent examples of how women in Uzbekistan have contributed to making their country a showcase of cultural and artistic talent, as exemplified, inter alia, by magnificent carpets, colourful silk garments and decorative arts.

Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as early as 1995, only a few years after its independence. Together with UN Women, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan has been at work to ensure rights based and gender responsive development and to improve the economic and social status of women in Uzbekistan.

The United Nations has been fruitfully cooperating with the national government and civil society centres and associations that take women’s interests close to heart, and I hope that the interaction between the UN and the Republic of Uzbekistan will continue to strengthen.

Earlier this year, the International Geneva Gender Champions Initiative, a network of decision makers in Geneva, was launched. Its members strive for gender parity in all discussions in International Geneva, leading by example and concrete action. It is my hope that more permanent missions and international organizations will join this effort in protecting and promoting women’s rights, and I hope that this exhibition tonight will give them inspiration to do so.

Thank you.