Uzbekistan, Tashkent, June 8 / Trend, D. Azizov /
Elmira Basitkhanova has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the Uzbek government and headed the country's Women's Committee, a source in government circles told Trend on Wednesday.
Before the appointment, Basitkhanova served as a senior doctor at one of Tashkent's hospitals and has experience in the executive government structures.
She has replaced Farida Akbarova who has held this post since 2008.
In 2004, Uzbekistan introduced a presidential decree on "Measures to Enhance Women's Role in Government and Public Construction of the Republic of Uzbekistan" which regulates the transition from the position of Chairperson of the National Women's Committee to deputy prime minister. Among the responsibilities of the deputy prime minister is to enhance the women's role in society.
The decree was adopted to attract women to address the wider issues of socio-economic and cultural development and enhance their participation in government and public governance, strengthen social family protection, motherhood and childhood, and coordinate ministerial activities, regional administrations and public organizations.