The World Bank has released its annual Women, Business and the Law report that measures laws and regulations affecting gender equality around the world. According to the latest report, Uzbekistan’s rating score has risen by 11.9 points, reaching 82.5 points, the press office of the World Bank reported.
The index assesses the status of women in more than 190 countries. Experts analyse laws and regulations in 10 key areas, including safety, workplace, pay, freedom of movement, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets and pensions. The report presents an update of the index, taking into account the laws and regulations reformed between October 1, 2022, and October 1, 2023. The report shows that only 18 countries — less than 10 percent of those assessed — enacted positive legal reforms enhancing gender equality under the law.
In particular, Uzbekistan introduced the standards guaranteeing women equal pay with men for equal work. The ban on women working in certain jobs was lifted. In October 2022, the new Labour Code, including these standards consistent with international standards on labour rights, was adopted.
Furthermore, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the law on protection of women from domestic violence. In April 2023, amendments to the Criminal and Administrative Codes aimed at combating all forms of domestic violence came into force.
