UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have joined hands with UN Women, Civil Initiatives Support Centre (CISC), the Women’s Assembly, National Association of Microfinance Organizations and Credit Unions, and National Association for NGOs in Uzbekistan to carry out this two-weeks long campaign. Along with public events in Tashkent, the capital, the campaign covers six other regions of Uzbekistan with events that are aimed at raising awareness of population on issues related to gender equality, gender-based discrimination, and calling for stronger positions of individuals and organizations towards promoting equal rights for women.

The campaign kicked off with a roundtable that took place in Tashkent on November 24, 2011. It gathered representatives of state institutions and civil society organizations to discuss the issues of raising opportunities and potential for income generation and improved welfare for women, especially vulnerable groups. At the roundatble, CISC presented the outcomes of its one-year cooperation programme with UNFPA and shared the results and lessons learned.

The launching of the campaign was followed by actions at Tashkent region and the city of Tashkent. Open-air actions were organized for visitors of a city park, and informational materials distributed. Particularly, organizers produced and distributed widely an informational brochure containing contacts of councelling and support centres and telephone hotline for women who found themselves in difficult situation. Subsequently, various other events were organized in the cities of Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Navoi, as well in Karakalpakstan.

Globally, the 16 Days Campaign begins on November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day. These dates symbolically link violence against women and human rights, and emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. The period also includes dates like December 1 – World AIDS Day and December 5 – International Volunteers Day. The campaign was first celebrated in 1991, led by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.  Since that time, activists all over the world have used this 16-day period to create a solidarity movement which raises awareness around gender-based violence, works to ensure better protection for survivors of violence and calls for its elimination.

In his global address made in 1999, the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries, or geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development, and peace”UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have joined hands with UN Women, Civil Initiatives Support Centre (CISC), the Women’s Assembly, National Association of Microfinance Organizations and Credit Unions, and National Association for NGOs in Uzbekistan to carry out this two-weeks long campaign. Along with public events in Tashkent, the capital, the campaign covers six other regions of Uzbekistan with events that are aimed at raising awareness of population on issues related to gender equality, gender-based discrimination, and calling for stronger positions of individuals and organizations towards promoting equal rights for women.

The campaign kicked off with a roundtable that took place in Tashkent on November 24, 2011. It gathered representatives of state institutions and civil society organizations to discuss the issues of raising opportunities and potential for income generation and improved welfare for women, especially vulnerable groups. At the roundatble, CISC presented the outcomes of its one-year cooperation programme with UNFPA and shared the results and lessons learned.

The launching of the campaign was followed by actions at Tashkent region and the city of Tashkent. Open-air actions were organized for visitors of a city park, and informational materials distributed. Particularly, organizers produced and distributed widely an informational brochure containing contacts of councelling and support centres and telephone hotline for women who found themselves in difficult situation. Subsequently, various other events were organized in the cities of Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Navoi, as well in Karakalpakstan.

Globally, the 16 Days Campaign begins on November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day. These dates symbolically link violence against women and human rights, and emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. The period also includes dates like December 1 – World AIDS Day and December 5 – International Volunteers Day. The campaign was first celebrated in 1991, led by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.  Since that time, activists all over the world have used this 16-day period to create a solidarity movement which raises awareness around gender-based violence, works to ensure better protection for survivors of violence and calls for its elimination.

In his global address made in 1999, the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries, or geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development, and peace”