Scientific Seminar on Gender Equality Among Women Migrants
On October 9, 2024, as part of the implementation of the Fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the United Nations — "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls" — the Department of Sociology and Social Work organized a scientific seminar dedicated to the issues of gender equality and migration. The event attracted international experts, with keynote speakers being professors from the Free University of Amsterdam, renowned for their research in gender studies and migration processes.
Professor Marina de Regt presented a report titled "Women and Migration in the Middle East," focusing on the situation in Yemen. In her presentation, she elaborated on the complex conditions faced by women migrants in this region, highlighting the unequal distribution of gender rights, as well as the social and economic risks threatening their safety and well-being. Specific topics discussed included discrimination, restricted access to education and healthcare services, and vulnerability to exploitation and violence. Special attention was given to the rights of women in the context of conflict and instability, which are characteristic of the region. Professor de Regt provided examples from Yemen, which vividly demonstrated how migration processes impact women and what strategies they use to survive and adapt to new environments. Additionally, the seminar touched upon similar cases from Central Asian countries, where women migrants face numerous challenges, including legal uncertainty, social isolation, and workplace discrimination. These examples underscored the universality of the problem of gender inequality in migration processes and the need for international cooperation to address it.
Dr. Oleksandr Khyzhniak, a manager of international cooperation projects at the Free University of Amsterdam, was also present at the seminar. In his speech, he focused on the role of the SDGs in the modern higher education system, emphasizing how international projects and academic cooperation contribute to promoting and implementing the Fifth SDG. He noted that educational institutions play a key role in spreading knowledge about gender equality and women's rights, as well as in developing strategies aimed at eliminating gender barriers. Dr. Khyzhniak shared his experience in implementing international projects and emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange between universities and other educational organizations for the effective achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The seminar served as an important platform for discussing current issues related to the rights of women migrants and demonstrated the significance of interdisciplinary and international cooperation in addressing gender inequality.
Organizers: Akmadi M.A. Shedenova N.U.