Ulaanbaatar, August 21, 2024 /MONTSAME/. Under the auspices of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the first World Women’s Forum, a highly prestigious and responsible forum will convene on August 22-23, 2024. MONTSAME, Mongolian National News Agency interviewed Mr. Odbayar Erdenetsogt, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia, on this Forum.

World women leaders from many different fields are gathering in our country. Can this be considered as an acknowledgment of Mongolia’s efforts and initiatives in ensuring gender equality and women's rights?

-The President of Mongolia, the Parliament, and the Government of Mongolia place great emphasis on ensuring gender equality. To successfully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, Mongolia has put numerous objectives in its "Vision-2050," the country's long-term development policy, and the Government’s Action Plan for 2020-2024, including "Creating conditions to ensure gender equality in political, legal, economic, social, cultural, and family relations," "Reducing gender inequality gaps," "Empowering women and girls by ensuring gender equality," and "Increasing women's participation and leadership at decision-making level," “Additionally, the policy promotes developing a national system for providing human rights and gender education to the public and adhering to a policy that ensures gender equality.”

As you mentioned, Mongolia has been actively working to contribute to ensuring gender equality within international organizations over the decades. For instance, since 1982, the UN General Assembly has been approving the Mongolia-initiated resolution "Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas.” Mongolia also supports other resolutions aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls, initiated by other member states or groups. This reflects Mongolia’s commitment to gender equality since the 1980s, even though at the time, the global community may not have fully recognized our contributions due to the political landscape, system differences, and dynamics in international relations.

Nevertheless, women, obviously have always played a significant role in Mongolia’s daily social and economic life. Since the 1990s, the international community has increasingly acknowledged and respected Mongolia’s role and initiatives, particularly in the past three years, during which active efforts have been made in supporting women at the initiatives of President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa.

Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh noted in her interview with MONTSAME that Mongolia intends to host the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security as a regular event. In anticipation of the World Women’s Forum, what other major events would you highlight as representing Mongolia on the world stage?

-In 2022, we marked the 20th anniversary of Mongolia's participation in peacekeeping operations. To commemorate this milestone, we hosted, for the first time in the region, an International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security under the auspices of the President of Mongolia. The event brought together female peacekeepers from over 30 countries. We plan to continue holding this conference every five years and aim at expanding it into a platform where peacekeepers and other stakeholders exchange knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned.

In June 2023, under the auspices of the President of Mongolia, we organized the Female Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Ulaanbaatar. I am pleased to highlight that this event was not only the first-ever meeting of female foreign ministers held in Asia but also a significant milestone in the international relations history of Mongolia.

Now, we are going to host the World Women’s Forum in Ulaanbaatar city under the auspices of the President of Mongolia. One hundred and sixty-five foreign delegates have been registered for this Forum. Among them, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the Vice President of Laos, the First Lady of Kyrgyzstan, and the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Parliaments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Uzbekistan have officially confirmed their participation. Such active participation clearly demonstrates that countries worldwide place great importance, respect, comprehend, and support Mongolia’s initiatives and proposals in the international arena. This also underscores the effectiveness of our country's foreign policy and activities.

What would you say about the audience of the Forum? The value and significance of major international forums and conventions are assessed by the presentations and delegates. 

 -Certainly. There is an unwritten rule that the significance of a meeting or forum is determined by the level of participation. Internationally, the higher the level of participation, the greater the impact of the forum's outcomes, decisions, and resolutions. Thus, it can be said that the WWF will have a very high level of participation. For example, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, will take part in the WWF while paying an official visit to our country. The UN decided to send its chief diplomat in charge of women, gender equality, and development to this Forum.

At the invitation of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar is paying a State Visit to Mongolia for the first time. As part of the State Visit President Nataša Pirc Musar will participate in the WWF as a Guest of Honor and deliver a speech. The Speakers of the Parliaments of Bulgaria and Uzbekistan will visit our country. So, the Forum will be attended by high-level delegates, including leading politicians, influential decision-makers, members of parliament, and representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations from all over the world.

Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, who visited Mongolia in 2022, praised Mongolia as a "Symbol of Peace." What aspects of our country are capturing the interest of high-profile international representatives this time?

 -Indeed, the speech of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was a defining moment for our country on the world stage. The world has seen and heard Mr. Guterres declare, "Mongolia is a symbol of peace, a nation with a peace-loving, multi-pillar, and independent foreign policy." Regarding the expected outcomes of the WWF, it's a broad, yet excellent question. We are living in a time when our country is under the global spotlight. Interest in us spans from the unity and stability of Mongolia’s foreign policy to our international initiatives and proposals. Also, it's about the radiance on our people's faces and the genuine smiles that emanate from their hearts. On the other hand, we are facing trying times of geopolitical conflict and mistrust.

During this exact time, Mongolia will offer its particular contributions to gender equality, women's leadership and participation in decision-making, women's livelihoods, education, and empowerment, particularly in rural areas, besides discussions of politics, geopolitics, geostrategy, and economics under its peaceful, multi-pillar, open, and independent foreign policy.

It is also important what documents will this Forum issue. As the WWF is being co-organized with the United Nations, we plan to issue the Ulaanbaatar Declaration for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Future” in cooperation with all participating countries, the UN Women, and other participating organizations within the United Nations system.

Although the document's name has not been finalized by the parties, I believe there will be no significant change.

Every Mongolian woman should be proud that the world’s leading influential women are convening in the Capital City of Mongolia. Can you briefly share with us the significance and value of this Forum?

-Most importantly, the Forum provides an opportunity for countries and participating parties to exchange views, share their thoughts on the outcomes and achievements of successfully implementing projects and programs, and learn from the experiences of highly developed countries. Hosting a forum for hundreds of representatives from around the world will demonstrate our country's political stability, political system, the country’s capability.

Through the Forum we will showcase on the international stage that Mongolia, a country with a statehood history of more than 2,500 years, has an independent foreign policy, a clear path for development, and its own geostrategic position.

The foreign representatives will visit Mongolia to witness and experience its rich history, statehood traditions, customs, culture, arts, and renowned hospitality of its people. To enhance their visit, we are preparing to present our cultural heritage to the Forum guests, taking them, for instance to the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, and showcasing unique exhibits including the historic letter sent by Ulziit Khaan to King Philip IV of France.

We, as Mongolians, should take pride in hosting international forums, conferences, and high-level visits in our country. This manifests the strength of Mongolia's independence, the soundness of our policies, and the respect and admiration of Mongolia globally. Therefore, it is essential to declare and spread the outcomes of the Forum internationally, a task that we will continue to implement even after the Forum’s conclusion.

Our ancestors' proud history witnesses the contributions of Mongolian women in history. A recent history tells that a Mongolian woman was appointed as Chairperson of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. What notable initiatives by Mongolian women for global deeds would you highlight?

-There were, and still are, great women serving in Mongolia's diplomatic service. In 1951, a group of women started to be trained for diplomatic service of the People’s Republic of Mongolia, and five years later, the first two women were assigned to diplomatic missions. You mentioned the distinguished diplomat Ms. Ider Luvsandanzan, who is undoubtedly a pride for Mongolians.

“Until 1990, women comprised only around 10 percent of the employees of Mongolia’s diplomatic service. Today, women make up half of the administrative positions in the service, and currently, six women are serving as ambassadors heading Mongolian diplomatic missions abroad—the most than at any time in the history of our diplomatic service.”

Mongolia recognizes the positive impact of women across all sectors and supports women's leadership. It is noteworthy that in 2011, Mongolia passed the Law on Gender Equality and subsequently established the National Committee on Gender Equality. Mongolia is also implementing the Interdisciplinary Strategy for 2022-2031 to ensure gender equality.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Mongolian Women’s Association, and remarkably, Mongolia hosts the WWF this historic year under the auspices of the President of Mongolia in collaboration with the UN. We should all take pride in this milestone and hope a large number of guests appreciate its significance. More notably, Mongolia is the first country in Asia that enshrines gender equality and the right to elect and to be elected in its Constitution.

As a country with valuable experiences to share, a rich history to showcase, and a unique heritage to present to the international community, at this Forum Mongolia can serve as a model in many fields, and share experiences while also learning from other countries.