On 26 September 2019, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov had a meeting with Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Asa Régner in New York City. Opinions on gender equality were discussed as well as efforts to expand the rights and opportunities for women.
The SCO Secretary-General noted that SCO member states devoted great attention to equality and to the equitable involvement of women in accomplishing political and socio-economic tasks. "This is an important factor when it comes to economic development and the society's democratic nature and stability. Over the past few years, the SCO has been exerting efforts to expand cooperation between women; this is facilitated by the initiatives of SCO member states' governments and the proactive stance of the relevant women's movements and organisations," Mr Norov pointed out.
He also added that the goals of the SCO Development Strategy until 2025 largely coincided with those of the UN Sustainable Development Goals until 2030, including efforts to ensure gender equality and to provide access to an entire range of services and the main elements of human activities.
The SCO Secretary-General also acquainted Ms Régner with the results of the 2nd SCO Women's Forum, held in May 2019 in Bishkek, and its concluding resolution.
Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Asa Régner praised the SCO efforts being made to ensure gender equality and to expand women's rights. She familiarised Mr Norov with the goals and tasks of her organisation and the activities of its regional offices.
The sides also discussed the possibility of establishing partner-like relations between both associations and holding joint thematic events and consultations in order to exchange opinions on how to empower women in society.
The Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, was established in 2010 for more quickly meeting the requirements of women all over the world, more effectively using available resources and pooling the mandates and functions of certain divisions of the UN system that address matters of gender equality and ways of expanding the rights of women and their opportunities. This is a leading body for coordinating the UN system's work in the field of gender equality.