In the Mongolian general elections held last June, a record-breaking 32 women were elected to Parliament—the highest number in the country’s history. This milestone was achieved with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Since 2021, KOICA, in partnership with the UNDP Mongolia office, has been implementing the "Project for Promoting Gender Equality in Public Decision-Making and Women’s Empowerment in Mongolia." During the "Conference on Sharing Achievements of the Gender Equality Project" held on the 8th at the Lotte Hotel, Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, highlighted the effectiveness of this support for gender equality. Since 2021, KOICA has been pursuing its Mid-term Strategy for Gender Equality (2021-2025) under the vision of "Realizing a Gender-Equal Society where Rights are Guaranteed Without Discrimination," focusing on improving women's social status, economic empowerment, and securing fundamental rights.

Hosted by KOICA and organized by Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), the conference was held both in-person and via online streaming to share the achievements of the project and explore international cooperation strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5). Approximately 140 domestic and international experts and stakeholders attended, including executive members of KOICA, the UNDP Mongolia Resident Representative, and officials from the National Committee on Gender Equality (NCGE) of Mongolia.

The morning session commenced with a keynote speech by Professor Mona Lena Krook of Rutgers University, a renowned scholar in women and politics. It featured gender specialists from KOICA, USAID, and UNDP Headquarters, who shared global strategies for promoting women's political participation. The afternoon session focused on the specific outcomes and lessons learned from the joint KOICA-UNDP Mongolia project.

Participants specifically noted the project's multi-faceted approach, which included improving Mongolia's political systems, strengthening the capacities of female politicians, and raising voter awareness. In her opening remarks, Director Lee Yun-young emphasized the need for continued efforts, stating, "There is still a long way to go to reach a fair society where women can freely and equally participate in political and economic decision-making." This conference is expected to serve as a significant reference for future projects aimed at expanding women's political participation, not only in Mongolia but also in other nations.

LINK : https://www.mhns.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=703755