LocationsUzbekistan’s State Customs Committee receives Silver Gender Equality Seal
February 17, 2026
Tashkent, February 14, 2026 — Uzbekistan marked a significant milestone in advancing gender equality in public administration with the official awarding of the Silver Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions to the State Customs Committee (SCC) during a national ceremony "Gender Equality Activist - 2025" held in the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The event, organized by the Committee on Youth, Women, Culture and Sport of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Customs Committee, and UNDP Uzbekistan, brought together senior government officials, parliamentarians, international partners, civil society representatives, and the media to celebrate institutional leadership in promoting equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
The Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions is a globally recognized certification program that supports governments in institutionalizing gender-responsive policies, practices, and accountability mechanisms. The Silver Seal awarded to SCC reflects 70 percent compliance with international gender equality benchmarks, demonstrating measurable progress toward inclusive and equitable governance.
A video presentation showcased SCC’s journey toward the Silver Seal, highlighting concrete reforms and cultural shifts within the institution.
Through its participation in the Seal programme, the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan has made significant progress in advancing gender equality by expanding women’s representation, strengthening institutional frameworks, and investing in women’s professional growth. The share of women in the system increased from 8% to 12%, with a growing number of women appointed to leadership positions and included in the talent reserve.
SCC introduced comprehensive reforms including gender analysis and gender responsive budgeting procedures, established dedicated gender equality advisory structures, and created new positions such as the Advisor to the Chairman and Gender Equality Expert. The Committee delivered extensive capacity building programmes—training more than 500 women through national and international courses, enhancing leadership, legal, IT, and soft skills, and supporting women’s access to higher education and academic degrees.
Women employees benefited from enhanced social protection measures, meaningful recognition, and targeted incentives, while close cooperation with UNDP helped strengthen a gender‑inclusive and supportive work environment.
Uzbekistan’s State Customs Committee has become the first public institution in Central Asia to be awarded the Silver Medal under the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GESPI). This milestone positions Uzbekistan as a recognized regional leader and standard‑setter in the pursuit of gender equality.
Opening the ceremony, Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution, national legislation, and the National Gender Equality Strategy 2021-2030.
In his speech Akmalhuja Mavlonov, Chairperson of the State Customs Committee, emphasized that gender equality is integral to institutional effectiveness and public trust.
Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, underscored the importance of the Gender Equality Seal in translating policy commitments into practical results, noting its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Messages from UNDP’s global Gender Seal team further highlighted the international relevance of Uzbekistan’s progress and encouraged other public institutions to follow the SCC’s example.
The ceremony concluded with the formal presentation of the Silver Seal diploma to the State Customs Committee.
