New York, 13 March 2026 – High-level side event was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the margins of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), focusing on advancing women’s empowerment across the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
The event was organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations and with the support of the CICA Secretariat. It served as an important platform for discussing the role of women in advancing sustainable development, inclusive governance and regional cooperation across the CICA region. The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of strengthening institutional mechanisms that support women’s participation in decision-making and promote gender equality across Asia.
The panel brought together distinguished speakers and experts, including Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Ms. Bahar Muradova, CICA Deputy Secretary General Ms. Zhang Ling, Member of Parliament of Türkiye and Chair of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men Ms. Çiğdem Erdoğan, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations H.E. Ambassador Aida Kasymalieva, and Chief of the Peace and Security Unit at UN Women Ms. Päivi Kannisto.
Chairperson Ms. Bahar Muradova underlined the importance of systemic and sustainable cooperation among CICA Member States to advance women’s empowerment, noting that broad participation of women in decision-making is essential for regional stability and sustainable development. She emphasized the need to expand women’s access to education, justice and economic opportunities, including entrepreneurship, financial resources and digital skills. Ms. Muradova also noted that the CICA Women Council will serve as a consultative platform for promoting joint initiatives and sharing best practices among Member States.
Deputy Secretary General Ms. Zhang Ling highlighted the unique role of CICA as a platform for dialogue, confidence building and cooperation across Asia, drawing attention to the recent establishment of the CICA Women Council as a dedicated advisory body. She noted that the Council will facilitate an institutionalized exchange of experiences, support joint initiatives and promote women’s participation in digital technologies, STEAM fields and sustainable entrepreneurship. Ms. Zhang Ling also referred to the upcoming inaugural meeting of the Council and the CICA conference entitled “Amplifying Women’s Voices Across CICA for Sustainable Growth” to be held in Baku as important milestones for strengthening women’s leadership in the region.
Ms. Çiğdem Erdoğan stressed that women play a central role in building strong families and resilient societies. She underscored the importance of addressing structural barriers and preparing girls for future opportunities, including in digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and referred to reforms in Türkiye aimed at enhancing gender equality, strengthening legal protections and expanding women’s participation in education and public service.
Ambassador Aida Kasymalieva reaffirmed that women’s empowerment remains a national priority for Kyrgyzstan and an essential condition for sustainable peace and development. She highlighted the importance of civil society engagement and partnerships between governments, regional organizations and communities in promoting women’s participation in decision-making, noting measures introduced in Kyrgyzstan to increase women’s representation in politics, including gender quotas in elections.
Ms. Päivi Kannisto of UN Women highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among governments, international organizations and civil society to advance gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls. She noted that women remain underrepresented in global decision-making processes and emphasized that their meaningful participation in peacebuilding and governance contributes to more sustainable and lasting outcomes. Ms. Kannisto also expressed hope for continued cooperation with CICA and the CICA Women Council to further expand women’s participation and support inclusive development across the region.
The discussion highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among CICA Member States in promoting women’s leadership, economic participation and access to education and innovation. Participants emphasized that empowering women contributes directly to sustainable development, social resilience and long-term stability across the region.
The side event provided an important platform for exchanging views and sharing best practices on gender equality, sustainable development and women’s leadership. It concluded with an interactive discussion session during which representatives of CICA Member States addressed key issues including women’s participation in decision-making, access to economic and educational opportunities, and the protection of women affected by conflict.
