‘The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ Joint Campaign kicks off in Uzbekistan

Organized by the Gender Commission of Uzbekistan, UN system and Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, the kick-off event marked the official start of a series of awareness-raising campaigns, ranging from offline regional events to digital campaigns and was attended by more than 100 participants, including national and international partners, the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, youth and mass media.  

In September 2019, Uzbekistan adopted a Law on Protecting Women from All Forms of Harassment and Violence. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, from January-September 2021, 29,541 women and girls who had been subjected to harassment and violence received protection orders.  

The event participants discussed Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen a multi-sectoral response to gender-based-violence (GBV), including service provision for victims and survivors, through Centres of Rehabilitation and Adaptation, and non-governmental shelters.

“It is high time to create a movement for social norm change so that all women and girls will be protected everywhere, and they become one of the key forces driving the social and economic transformation in the new Uzbekistan,” noted Yu Yu, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan.      

Participants have also highlighted challenges and opportunities and emphasized how all stakeholders can effectively collaborate, to strengthen the fight against GBV, provide methods for preventing violence, continue building capacity across all relevant agencies and activist groups and advance their commitments to end violence against women and girls.

Media representatives and bloggers specifically spoke about a role of the media in changing attitudes and dispelling stereotypes around gender-based violence.

Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights. The impact of violence has serious physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls. It has damaging affects on women’s general well-being, health, and prevents women from fully participating in society, while being detrimental to the entire family, the community, and the country at large.

The “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’’ is an international campaign, held annually since 1991. The campaign begins on the 25th of November with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs through to the 10th of December, Human Rights Day – signifying the fact that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. This year marks the campaign’s 30th anniversary.