Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan

In the traditional society of Central Asia, geology and related sciences developed slowly, but women, especially in scientific circles, gradually began to take active positions, studying and exploring the natural resources of their region.

In recent years, the government of Uzbekistan has paid great attention to issues of increasing the role of women in society and gender equality. Uzbekistan was among the first countries in Central Asia to ratify CEDAW - the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence and Discrimination against Women. The World Bank's 2024 Country Gender Assessment report noted significant progress made by the authorities in ensuring gender equality since 2017.

The Ministry of Mining and Geology of Uzbekistan carries out a number of works aimed at achieving gender equality, which is an important part of the national strategy to improve the status of women in the country and create equal opportunities for all.

In the geological industry of Uzbekistan, there is also an active participation of women in all areas. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of women receiving education in the field of geology. In this regard, there is an active participation of girls in educational, scientific and professional structures. In particular, the University of Geological Sciences under the Ministry of Mining and Geology offers programs in the field of geology, where young girls actively participate in the educational process. Also, employees of research institutes under the Ministry of Geology systematically participate and become prize winners in competitions held within the framework of the "Scientific Women of Uzbekistan".

There are a number of successful female scientists working in the industry who have made important discoveries in the field of geology and published numerous scientific papers that contribute to the development of the republic’s geological industry. The Ministry is actively implementing programs to train and improve the qualifications of women working in the mining industry. This includes specialized courses and trainings that help women develop professional skills and strengthen their positions in the team. As part of gender equality programs, work is underway to create a mentoring and career counseling system for women. This helps them not only develop their technical skills, but also build a successful career in a male-dominated field.

The Ministry strives to increase the representation of women in leadership positions. Women's participation in the decision-making process contributes to a more balanced approach to issues related to the development of the industry.

Among the management staff of the central office of the Ministry, the number of women managers.

In total, there are 61 women with an academic degree in the geological field. Of these, 8 are doctors of science, 53 are PhD degree.

To protect the socio-economic interests of employees working in the Ministry, an industry collective agreement was concluded. This industry collective agreement regulates the work of women, establishes additional benefits and guarantees for women and persons with family responsibilities. Most of the guarantees provided for by labor legislation are in place. These initiatives help not only improve working conditions for women in the mining industry, but also promote the ideas of equality and justice in society as a whole.

An important aspect is the creation of support networks and communities for women working in the mining industry. This helps to exchange experiences, solve emerging difficulties and inspire each other to new achievements.

Representatives of the Ministry of Mining of Uzbekistan and its subordinate enterprises actively participate in international seminars and conferences on gender equality, which emphasizes the importance of this topic at the global level and the country's desire to integrate into international initiatives.

The latest training seminar was attended by experts such as Ceren Guven Gures, Head of UN Women Office in Uzbekistan, Blerina Hani, International Expert on Gender Budgeting and Public Finance Management, Mustafa Kadir, UN Women Representative in Turkey, Gender Budgeting Expert. The seminar addressed issues of gender budgeting.

Participation in such events allows representatives of the ministry to exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries, study best practices and successful projects implemented in the field of gender equality. This helps to introduce new ideas and approaches into national policy.

Participation in international forums contributes to the expansion of a professional network, which can be useful for further cooperation in the development and implementation of gender programs.

These events raise important issues related to gender equality and call for action at the level of governments and societies.

Participation in international seminars contributes to a more complete integration of gender policy into strategic plans and the development of legislation in Uzbekistan, which helps strengthen the protection of women's rights and create equal conditions for all citizens.

Thus, the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Mining of Uzbekistan in international seminars on gender equality not only improves their qualifications, but also contributes to progress in the implementation of initiatives aimed at equality in the sphere of work and life in general.

The Ministry actively promotes gender equality issues through information tools. This increases awareness of women's rights and the importance of their participation in the economic development of the country.

In recent years, the Government of Uzbekistan has awarded medals and orders to more than a dozen women working in the system of the Ministry of Geology.

In conclusion, it can be said with confidence that women in the geology of Uzbekistan play a vital role in the development of the country's scientific potential and the management of natural resources