Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 29 October, an official conference in Tashkent marked the launch of the EU-funded project "EU - Tabassum: Media Skills for Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Young Women in Uzbekistan."

Over 70 representatives attended, including officials from Uzbekistan’s government, EU member state embassies, NGOs, international and donor organizations, and local media.

The project aims to enhance expertise and practical skills in gender-sensitive reporting, combating gender-based misinformation, and conducting informational campaigns. Journalists, bloggers, and youth organizations will be trained, while women’s and youth NGOs can apply for grants of up to €4,000 to create media messages and events that represent their perspectives and promote youth and women’s narratives in Uzbekistan’s media landscape.

With a budget of €500,000, the project is funded by the EU with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project will be implemented by Germany’s DW Akademie and Uzbekistan’s Center for the Development of Modern Journalism (CDMJ).

In his opening remarks, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar emphasized the project’s role in supporting women’s efforts toward equal rights and highlighted the importance of strengthening NGO capacity to communicate social issues effectively.

Amalia Ogandjanyan, the project director from DW Akademie, stated that the "Tabassum" initiative aims to counter gender-based misinformation and equip young women with skills to recognize and respond to it, underscoring the importance of female voices in public discourse.

CDMJ project director Saida Sulaymanova noted that the project’s name, "Tabassum," meaning "smile," reflects the mission to shift negative narratives on gender issues toward positive and constructive discourse, promoting women’s rights and challenging outdated stereotypes.

Overall, the project seeks to foster a fairer and more inclusive society in Uzbekistan by developing media skills and advancing gender awareness.