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INTERNATIONAL

structure with powers within the executive
branch, similar to agencies, committees and
ministries established in many countries,
including developed countries, for the
successful promotion of gender policy.

Being appointed the Permanent Representative
of Kazakhstan to the UN (1999-2003), Madina
Jarbussynova was given the opportunity not
only to promote national interests globally,
but also to contribute to global agenda on
women empowerment, strengthening gender
policies and programs. At the UN venues. Of
the 192 UN member States at that time, only
11 were represented by women, and their
voices, including hers, were often heard from
the rostrums of the UN in search of ways to
in its work and coordinated its international promote the Beijing Agreements, improve
relations and cooperation at the regional and the status of women and girls and ensure
global levels. She contributed to the preparation their security. Ambassador Jarbussynova’s
of the first Concept of Gender Policy in the active position in promoting national and
Republic of Kazakhstan. The Commission global interests in gender issues was marked
became a catalyst for Kazakhstan’s accession by her election as one of the five members
to the Convention on the Elimination of All of the UNIFEM Board in 2002. As UNIFEM
Forms of Discrimination against Women in Board member she supported initiatives that
1998. Ambassador Jarbussynova is proud empower women economically, socially,
that she was one of those who persistently and politically, recognizing that true gender
promoted this and sought ratification, contrary equality goes hand in hand with women’s
to the opinion of some officials that first of all empowerment.
legislation and normative documents should
be brought into line with the provisions of the After completing her work at the UN, she
Convention before accession to it. If the latter’s received the portfolio of Ambassador-at-
opinion had won, Kazakhstan would not have Large for Human Rights in the MFA, and,
been on the list of countries participating in given her deep public involvement in the
the Convention for a long time, since even status of women and girls, she was often
at the last presentation of the Report on the called the Gender Ambassador. She advocated
Implementation of the Convention on the for gender equality, led initiatives to combat
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination gender-based violence, and worked to close the
against Women in 2018, members of the gender pay gap. Jarbussynova raised awareness
SEDAW committee made comments and about the various forms of discrimination
recommendations on its implementation. women face, from cultural biases to workplace
disparities. She actively participated in
Noting the relevant role of the Commission in national and international events, contributed
the formation of the State gender and family to the development of recommendations and
policy, however, Ambassador Jarbussynova solutions to improve gender policy, led the
believes that at the present stage, the advisory country’s delegations to international forums
function of the Commission is no longer on women’s issues, including at regular
sufficient to solve the tasks necessary to sessions of the UN Commission on the Status
improve the status of women and girls, of Women and when submitting reports on
effectively implement the international the implementation of the Convention on the
commitments undertaken. She considers Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
necessary to reorganize and create a state against Women in the relevant Committee.

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