CICA Women Council Holds Inaugural Meeting in Azerbaijan

• CICA Women Council held its first meeting in Azerbaijan
• Kairat Sarybay stressed inclusive governance and action-driven dialogue
• Members highlighted cooperation and gender equality efforts

A newly formed advisory body was officially launched with the first meeting of the Women Council of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia being held on Tuesday in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku.

CICA's Secretary General Kairat Sarybay stated at the opening of the meeting that the Women Council exemplifies the desire to convert dialogue into action as well as to create more inclusive governance by having women participate. He expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan's initiative of establishing the Women Council through their Chairmanship.

Bahar Muradova, the Chairperson of Azerbaijan's Committee for Family, Women, and Children Affairs, stated that the CICA Women Council would build mutual trust amongst its members and share best practices within its member states, which will help develop women's rights and lead to more inclusive and sustainable societies.

Shi Xin, a member of the China CICA Women Council and Associate Researcher at the Women's Studies Institute of China, provided an overview of China's philosophies and actions pertaining to the promotion of gender equality and the overall development of women.

She noted that China stands ready to work with all countries to actively promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women held in Beijing in 2025, jointly create a favorable environment for women's growth and development, foster strong momentum for the high-quality development of women's causes, build a sound governance framework that safeguards women's rights and interests, and together write a new chapter in advancing global cooperation on women's issues.

The same day, the international conference on the topic of Amplifying women voices across CICA towards Sustainable Growth was opened in Baku. There were panel discussions devoted to such issues as the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization and the role of women in the protection of the environment and its sustainability.

The first meeting of the Women Council of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 14, 2026. The CICA Women Council was officially launched on Tuesday in Baku with the first meeting taking place. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)