Constitutional Guarantee of Equality

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, women and men have equal rights. The State ensures equal rights and opportunities for women and men in managing the affairs of society and the State, as well as in other spheres of public and State life.

The Law “On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men” establishes the fundamental rules for ensuring equality in politics, the economy, employment, education, science, culture, healthcare and family relations.

Gender is the social dimension of relations between women and men manifested in all areas of public life.

Discrimination on the Grounds of Sex

Direct discrimination includes restricting a person’s rights on the grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, including sexual harassment and unequal remuneration for work of equal value.

Indirect discrimination occurs when an apparently neutral requirement, condition or criterion places persons of a particular sex in a less favourable position.

The following are not regarded as discrimination on the grounds of sex:

• establishing distinctions related to childbirth and breastfeeding;
• conscription for compulsory military service in accordance with the law;
• temporary special measures aimed at achieving gender equality;
• measures protecting reproductive health;
• professional requirements based on the fact that a specific duty can only be performed by a person of a particular sex;
• lawful distinctions in conditions of detention and enforcement of criminal penalties.

Important: pregnancy, the presence of children or family responsibilities may not, by themselves, serve as grounds for restricting a person’s rights.

Principal Guarantees

Equality in admission to public service, formation of the personnel reserve and promotion is ensured based on qualifications and professional training.

In employment relations, employers must:

• create equal opportunities in recruitment and promotion;
• provide equal remuneration for work of equal value;
• prevent discrimination on the grounds of sex;
• provide the statutory guarantees required for the performance of family responsibilities.

Both the father and the mother are entitled to use statutory leave connected with the birth of a child. Parental leave may be distributed between the parents.

Gender statistics include disaggregated data on the social and economic status of women and men. Compliance with legislation in State bodies and organisations is also assessed through a gender audit.

Appealing against Discrimination

A person who believes that they have been subjected to direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of sex may apply to the competent State authorities or a court.

A person subjected to discrimination on the grounds of sex is exempt from paying the State fee in connection with such an application.