The State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia is preparing to co-organize conference "Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue-Gender Equality and Sustainable Development", with Stanford University, Ban Ki-moon Foundation and Ewha Women's University on June 13 and 14, 2023 in Ulaanbaatar.

Ts.Jambaldorj, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the The State Great Hural Secretariat, provided some information about the conference.

- Can you give general information about this conference?

- All UN member countries adopted the Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda or the Sustainable Development Goals at the 70th session of the General Assembly in 2015. Basically, this program was adopted as a continuation of the Millennium Development Goals which was announced at the beginning of the new millennium. 193 UN member states jointly organized the most extensive consultation around the world and defined their goals how to achieve development together during the next 15 years, i.e. by 2030. A total of 17 goals have been announced in no particular order, ranging from poverty alleviation to cooperation in achieving the goals. Mongolia is also following suite to define its own sustainable development goals and fulfill its obligations to the global community. Mongolia's sustainable development goals were adopted in 2016.

It has always been said that the efforts and participation of all stakeholders, such as every citizen, enterprises, NGOs, academics and institutes are essential for the realization of these goals. In this sense, the world-renowned Stanford University has been contributing to support and accelerate the process of achieving sustainable development goals. In the framework of this content, last year the "Trans-Pacific Stability Dialogue" conference was organized in South Korea in cooperation with the Ban Ki-moon Foundation. H.E. Mr.G.Zandanshatar, the Chairman of the State Great Hural, and  Honourable MP Ms.Kh.Bulgantuya, Head of Sustainable development Goal’s Sub-Committee, delivered presentation at that conference. This year's dialogue on the stability of the Asian region is going to be held in Ulaanbaatar on the 13-14 day of this month.

- The theme of this conference was agreed as "Trans-Altai Stability Dialogue-Gender Equality and Sustainable Development". Can you please explain this?

- As last year's "Trans-Pacific Stability Dialogue" conference in South Korea was under the wider content of developing environmentally friendly solutions against climate change and the participation of the young generation while this year’s topic was reached after discussions and the determination of objectives of the conference depended on the composition of the representatives of the countries of the region. In particular, the content of ensuring gender equality or the 5th objective of the Sustainable Development Goals will be discussed at this conference as an incentive to accelerate sustainable development.

In other words, it is believed that ensuring gender equality is the driving force of development progress in creating a sustainable society and future. Gender-based violence and discrimination still exist in many countries around the world. In Mongolia, there is a strong debate about women's participation in decision-making. In the draft law on parliamentary elections, political parties are following the policy to increase women’s quota in the list of candidates. It is important that international conference is organized on this topic at a time when all these favorable conditions have been created. Countries believe that if they seek sustainable development, progress should be made in women's leadership. Therefore, internationally renowned speakers will discuss the challenges for achieving gender equality in the higher education sector and at the state level, as well as policy solutions to accelerate the work of supporting girls and women.

At the same time, a panel meeting will be held on the international trends of Altai studies, and the culture, history, traditions, sustainable cooperation and partnership of trans-Altai countries will be discussed.

- Won't you introduce the guests of honor who will participate in the conference? 

- 52 distinguished guests from 10 countries will attend, including H.E Ms.Kim Yong-joo, the Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr.Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, Mr.Gi Wook Shin, Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at Stanford University, Ms.Eun Mee Kim, president of Ewha Women's University of South Korea and Mr.Mehmet Sureyya Er, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Countries. Internationally renowned speakers will explore answers to the challenges in achieving gender equality in the higher education sector and discuss policy solutions to accelerate the advancement of girls and women.

- Any brief introduction to the topics of the sessions?

- The conference’s keynote speeches will be presented and discussions will take place on the 13th. For example, Ms.Christine Min Wotipka, associate professor of education and director of the master's program at Stanford University, will deliver speech in a discussion on gender equality in education. Ms.Eun Shil Kim, professor of Department of Women’s Studies at Ewha Women's University's, will serve as a moderator for the discussion on sustainable development and gender equality. Distinguished academics from Stanford University and other countries attending the conference will participate in discussions on gender-based violence and gender equality in the labor market as speakers and moderators. The ultimate goal of the conference is to derive policy solutions from all this. It is expected that more than 200 foreign and local individuals, including representatives of our political parties, civil society, government organizations, international organizations, ambassadors, and scientists of Altai studies will participate.