Baku has hosted a major regional conference focused on strengthening the role of women in economic development, leadership and sustainability across Asia.
The gathering, held under the umbrella of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, brought together delegates from Azerbaijan alongside representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and Cambodia.
At its core, the event aims to move beyond rhetoric and explore practical ways to ensure women are more visible and influential in shaping the region’s future.
Opening the conference, Bahar Muradova, Chair of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, framed the discussion in economic terms. She stressed that boosting women’s participation in business and society is not simply a social goal, but a driver of long-term growth.
She pointed to the increasing presence of women in Azerbaijan’s workforce, now roughly half of the employed population, as evidence of progress, while underlining that more can be done, particularly in entrepreneurship and regional development initiatives.
Addressing participants, Leyla Aliyeva highlighted the broader societal impact of women’s participation. She described women as central to innovation and leadership across sectors, from science to community development, and emphasised that empowering them is essential for any modern economy.
She also welcomed the creation of a new institutional mechanism within CICA, expressing hope that it would turn “meaningful ideas into actions.”
A key milestone of the event was the inaugural meeting of the CICA Women’s Council, designed to strengthen coordination between governments and civil society.
According to CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, the council is intended to bridge gaps between policymakers and grassroots organisations. He stressed that meaningful progress depends on listening to real-world challenges and ensuring they inform decision-making.
He also noted that, despite advances across Asia, women remain underrepresented in politics, economic leadership, peacebuilding and climate discussions, making initiatives like this particularly timely.
The council concluded its first session by adopting a recommendation document, setting out priorities for cooperation and future action among member states.
Throughout the conference, discussions centred on practical opportunities and emerging challenges.
Panels explored the role of women in small and medium-sized enterprises, with a strong emphasis on how artificial intelligence and digitalisation can open new pathways for entrepreneurship.
Another major theme was environmental leadership, examining how women can play a greater role in sustainability efforts and climate-related decision-making.
A video address from Sima Sami Bahous, head of UN Women, reinforced the global significance of the initiative, praising the establishment of the Women’s Council as a step towards stronger regional cooperation.
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Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Canada and the Bahamas announced on Tuesday that they will temporarily restrict entry for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan following an Ebola outbreak in the region.
Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.
Britain and Poland are set to sign a new defence and security treaty on Wednesday (27 May), deepening cooperation between the two NATO allies as European governments respond to what they describe as a growing range of hostile threats across the continent.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
Iran has called Monday's U.S. strikes on it 'a gross violation' of their ceasefire. The U.S. military said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the U.S. says a peace deal may require several more days.
Shortly after nine o’clock on Tuesday morning (26 May), a sleek white train eased into Tbilisi’s central railway station, a couple of minutes behind schedule, carrying passengers from Baku for the first time since 2020.
Tajikistan is hosting the Fourth International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” in Dushanbe from 25 to 28 May, bringing together more than 2,500 participants from governments, international organisations and financial institutions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Kazakhstan late on Wednesday for an unprecedented second state visit to the country in two years. He will gift Astana four Siberian tigers during the trip, as Moscow attempts to bolster its relationship with its closest partner in Central Asia.
The visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Armenia marks one of the clearest signs yet of Washington’s growing interest in the South Caucasus.
Tehran has sent a senior delegation to Qatar for indirect talks on a possible peace deal with Washington amid rising tensions following a U.S. air strike on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan and the United Nations Development Programme are launching a $3 million environmental project in Kazakhstan to support the Caspian Sea and improve water monitoring, amid growing concern over falling sea levels and risks to regional trade routes.
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