A panel session titled “The Role of Women in Human Development for Climate Resilience” was held as part of the ECO Women Forum.
Moderated by Vladanka Andreeva, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, the panel featured a speech by Leman Yenigün, Deputy Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services of Türkiye, who stated that her country had prepared a strategy to address climate change and presented it at COP29.
“Efforts are underway to increase the representation of women in the green energy sector. This initiative is being implemented under the patronage of the First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan,” she emphasized.
Zhuldyz Suleimenova, Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy, stressed that her country has made its contribution to the fight against climate change within the Paris Agreement. She noted that a strategy has been developed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and new educational programs have been implemented to train specialists in the energy and oil sectors.
Underscoring that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to promoting gender equality, Elnur Nasibov, Chairman of the Board of the Education Development Fund, emphasized that the Ministry of Science and Education is closely cooperating with the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs. In Azerbaijan, girls represent 60% of the student population, and 36% of those girls are enrolled in vocational education, he emphasized. “It is planned to increase this figure to 40 percent. Sixty-one percent of girls use the credit allocated for education,” he stated.
Mehmet Akif Kireçci, President of the ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI), pointed out that the organization has allocated large funds to the field of education. However, he said that problems persist: “While 94% of women participate in secondary and higher education, a significant number of girls—136 million globally—lack access to any education at all. We must also invest in families.”
Appraising the high-level organization of last year’s COP29, Mihaela Ionescu, a member of the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, noted that 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. “This is a very important document. If women’s economic empowerment is prioritized and resources are allocated effectively, the entire economy will benefit,” said Mihaela Ionescu.
Faraj Huseynbeyov, Senior Project Specialist at the Asian Development Bank Azerbaijan Office, emphasized that the institution he represents always keeps women in mind and shared insights into the programs and projects aimed at women’s development.
The panel session continued with discussions.