Historic Milestone: Madina Jarbussynova Elected to CEDAW, Representing Central Asia for the First Time
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In a landmark achievement, Madina Jarbussynova, a distinguished Kazakhstani diplomat and Senior Adviser to UN Women Kazakhstan, has been elected to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by a majority of votes. This marks the first time a representative from Kazakhstan and Central Asia has been elected to this vital UN body.
Ms. Jarbussynova, who previously served as the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations (1999-2003), will take office on January 1, 2025. Her election is a significant victory for gender equality in the Central Asia region, as 117 member states of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) supported her candidacy.
“I am proud that I was able to provide sound arguments in favor of choosing my candidacy from Kazakhstan and convince the voting participants that the participation of our country will have a positive impact in the fight against the existing discrimination against women in the world,” said Ms. Jarbussynova.
"We welcome the well-deserved election of Madina Jarbussynova as a worthy candidate who has made a great contribution to the development of her country in the diplomatic arena and in the global arena, including the work of UN Women. We congratulate all national partners on this historic event. We wish Ms. Jarbussynova fruitful work in the field of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls at the global level,” said Dina Amrisheva, Head of Office a.i., UN Women Kazakhstan.
The elections of the new members of the Committee for 2025 - 2028 were held on June 7, 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York (USA). Along with Kazakhstan, candidates from 20 states participated in the elections including from Oman, Switzerland, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Guatemala, Andorra, Australia, Nepal, Georgia, Chile, Barbados, China, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Cameroon, Mozambique, Northern Macedonia, Uruguay, the United Kingdom and Togo.
Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan stands out as a leader in gender equality, ranking 62nd in the Global Gender Gap Index among 146 countries last year.
Ms. Jarbussynova’s election is both a personal triumph and a significant milestone for Kazakhstan and Central Asia, paving the way for greater regional representation in global gender equality initiatives.
For further information and update, please contact UN Women Kazakhstan.