Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a privilege to speak at this International Conference marking the 30th Anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This milestone reminds us of the importance of fundamental rights and of three decades of progress towards equality between women and men.

Over the past three decades, Kazakhstan has made steady progress in expanding employment opportunities. In 2023, the country extended paid childcare leave from one year to one and a half years, and introduced subsidies for pension contributions for caregivers—ensuring stronger social protection. These are important steps that strengthen women’s position in the labour market and recognise the vital role that families play in supporting society.

At the same time, the world of work is undergoing a rapid transformation. Digitalisation, automation, and the transition to green economies are changing the skills and opportunities required for the future. Almost every job today—and certainly every job tomorrow—will require at least some degree of STEM skills, irrespective of the sector. 

To fully seize these opportunities, we must address the factors that still hold women back. One of them lies in how responsibilities within families affect economic participation. That’s why recognizing that when families, and especially women, are better supported through policies and services, society prospers. This challenge is not unique to Kazakhstan. Encouragingly, international experiences offer valuable lessons. Iceland’s progressive parental leave policies, for example, allow both parents to share responsibilities more equally. Flexible work arrangements and incentives for men to take leave have reduced the negative impact of childbirth on women’s careers.

Another factor limiting women’s empowerment is occupational segregation. Women in Kazakhstan, as elsewhere, are still predominantly concentrated in sectors such as education, health, and social work. These are vital for society, but they remain undervalued and underpaid. At the same time, high-income sectors such as ICT and the green economy remain male-dominated. In 2023, women made up only 15% of those employed in renewable energy facilities.

Nordic countries such as Sweden and Finland have also invested heavily in education to break occupational segregation. By exposing girls to STEM subjects from an early age, providing mentorship programmes, and celebrating women role models in science, they have achieved near-parity in STEM enrolments.

In Denmark, for example, a partnership between the L’Oréal Foundation, UNESCO, and the Royal Academy of Sciences annually recognises outstanding women scientists with the “For Women in Science” award. Such initiatives not only promote excellence but also challenge traditional perceptions of women’s roles in society.

At UNDP, we are working with Kazakhstan to bring these lessons closer to home. One concrete example is the Digital Kyzylorda project. Together with local authorities, we have supported more than 160 entrepreneurs—most of them women—to gain digital skills, access mentoring, and bring their products and services online.

For rural women, digital tools are particularly transformative. They allow women to run businesses, sell products, and access markets without having to leave their families behind. In this way, digitalisation does not compete with family roles—it complements them, creating new opportunities while respecting traditions of care and solidarity.

Colleagues, these examples remind us that empowering women requires a comprehensive approach. Looking ahead, Kazakhstan can accelerate progress by:

• Investing in family- and community-based support services. Evidence shows that every dollar invested in care services generates more employment. Importantly, addressing these issues contributes directly to early childhood development (SDG 4) and to reducing unemployment (SDG 8).

• Expanding access to future-oriented sectors such as ICT, the green economy, and digital entrepreneurship. By addressing gender segregation in these fields, Kazakhstan can unlock untapped potential for innovation and inclusive growth.

• Promoting family-friendly business practices—equal pay for equal work, safe workplaces, prevention of sexual harassment, and flexible work arrangements. Since 2009, 33 countries worldwide have strengthened paternity benefits. Public information campaigns accompanying these policies have helped shift norms, encouraging fathers to use their leave and creating a more equitable sharing of family responsibilities.

As we look ahead, the green economy, the digital economy, and the care economy must stand together as the three pillars of a sustainable, resilient, and equal future.

Thank you.