The training brings together representatives of NGOs for people with disabilities, women’s NGOs, and institutions working with vulnerable population groups. The training utilizes interactive educational methods and aims to provide PWDs with practical knowledge within the following areas:

• The UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), implementation of National Action Plan and other efforts towards promoting gender equality in Uzbekistan. The State programme 2015: “Year of Care for the Elderly”;
• Legislative base for entrepreneur activity in Uzbekistan, and steps needed to initiate a start-up. The importance of gender aspects in planning and evaluation of business activity;
• The concept of social entrepreneurship and practical skills in planning for a socially-oriented business

The issues of developing of socially-responsible entrepreneurship are especially important in the country, hence participants were eager to learn about its legal base, as well as the importance of considering gender aspects, and the needs of vulnerable groups in planning and running of socially-oriented businesses.

Yuriy Aitov, training participant and the Head of Public Council of the City Centre for Social and Legal Support for PWDs ‘Status’ says: “There is no legislative base for social entrepreneurship in the country yet, but there are lots of opportunities to initiate it. I personally see real opportunities for job creation for the disabled within the ICT sector, which is currently on the rise in Uzbekistan. This training was a great platform to share our ideas and thoughts on legislative mechanisms needed for initiation of social enterprises”.

Natalya Plotnikova, Director of disabled women’s network “Opa-singillar” shares that she was happy to get so many insights into the concept of social entrepreneurship. “I often participate in training and seminars held by different organizations, but this one stands out with very practical knowledge it gave us”, - says Natalya. She has been using a wheelchair since her early childhood, and she says that lack of accessible urban environment is still an issue, and the special needs of disabled women are unfortunately often being neglected.

“It was great to learn about gender stereotypes and discuss some of them in the group work”, - Natalya adds. “For example, some may think that girls do not need to be educated equally with boys or that after some schooling they should stay at home and care for the family. I was pleased to see young people among us today, who realized that stereotypes are not written in stone and that they are being created by people themselves”.

The training was organized within partnership initiative between UNFPA and CISC, as part of awareness-raising work for population, particularly among vulnerable groups. Working with PWDs is a comparatively new endeavor for UNFPA, but the Fund plans to continue and scale-up this work in the future.