Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 5 June 2009, UNDP announced winners of the jopurnalistic contest “The role of mass media in women’s rights promotion”, which was organized jointly by UNDP and International Center for Training of Journalists. Eight representatives of Ubek mass-media, both national and regional, were awarded for their works in the field of women’s rights, gender equality and combating discrimination against women.

The contest was aimed at eliminating stereotypes in mass media of Uzbekistan, improving skills of journalists through training on correct writing, taking photos and videos, thus helping journalists to acquire the best practices of global journalism.

Anita Nirody, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Gulnara Marufova, Deputy Chairperson of the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, and Anne Bauty, Ambassador of Switzerland in Uzbekistan, opened the ceremony.

Journalists, editorial boards and web media outlets participated in the contest. The contest winners, announced at the ceremony today, are the following:

1. Editorial Board of “Adolat Yo’li” newspaper ( Ferghana regional prosecutor’s office)
2. Nadejda Lee - reporter of “Tashkentskaya Pravda” newspaper
3. Feruza Khashimkhanova - newspaper “Zerkalo XXI”
4. Salimakhon Rustamova - reporter of Ferghana regional television and radio company

The following contestants were also awarded as encouragement to keep up great work:

1. Zamira Baltaeva - reporter of “Samarkandskiy Vestnik” newspaper
2. Akhmadjon Buzrukov - Radio Uzbekistan
3. Valentina Pavlovskaya - editor-in-chief of “Chirchik” newspaper
4. Aliya Abdunabieva - correspondent of www.krasota.uz website

The contest organizers expressed hope that mass media representatives will support promotion of gender equality, targeted at promoting women’s rights and ensuring equal opportunities for both men and women in participation in socio-political life of the country.