The SCO Women’s Forum is a non-governmental entity within the SCO. Its main tasks are: promoting gender equality in the SCO space; exchanging best practices in the context of efforts to support women and little girls and protect their rights and interests; and identifying promising trends for mutually beneficial cooperation in various gender policy focus areas.
The First SCO Women’s Forum was held at China’s initiative in Beijing on 16-17 May 2018. It was organised by the All-China Women’s Federation in cooperation with the SCO Secretariat, focusing on “Harnessing the Power of Women for Common Development.” According to the organisers, the event brought together over 200 delegates, including government leaders and ministers, members of parliament, heads of women’s organisations, scholars, experts, and entrepreneurs from SCO member states, observers, and dialogue partners, as well as from the relevant UN agencies (16 countries).
There were five forums between 2018 and 2024.
The latest forum took place in Qingdao, Shandong Province on 10-12 September 2024. It was organised by the All-China Women’s Federation in cooperation with the SCO Secretariat, the SCO Chinese Committee on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and the Shandong Provincial People’s Government.
The forum focused on enhancing women’s digital empowerment and economic involvement. Its participants included woman leaders, heads of government agencies concerned with women’s affairs and women’s organisations of the SCO member states, observers, and dialogue partners.