A festival dedicated to women's rights and gender activism in Uzbekistan, known as Ayol Yo’li, has kicked off in Tashkent, as reported by Gazeta.uz.
This event is the outcome of a collaboration among various women's initiatives, including the anti-violence project Nemolchi.uz and its Uzbek-language counterpart Sukut Saqlama, the NGO Ishonch va Hayot, which unites and supports people living with HIV in Uzbekistan, the online communities Ayt Community, Qizlar, and the micro-media platform Sarpa. The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) has extended its support to the organizers.
The festival commenced with a public discussion on women's activism, featuring participation from activist organizers. They delved into the structure of civil activism in Uzbekistan, the motivations behind women's involvement, and fielded questions from the audience.
According to Nigina Khudaibergenova, the coordinator of the Nemolchi.uz project, activism in Uzbekistan is often associated with a negative and ironic undertone. It's a term that's frequently linked to women congregating around public spaces, implying that these are the ones who need it the most. This perception isn't entirely unfounded. However, it's impossible to turn a blind eye to the issues. With our own eyes and ears, we witness the state of our surroundings, the structure of our society, and an innate desire for change begins to take root. Khudaibergenova believes that individuals with children find it more straightforward to engage in activism because they have a clear purpose: "as my child grows, they will inherit this world, and it's our responsibility to make it a better place for them."
Activism is inspired not only by societal issues and reflections on the fate of the city, the country, and society, but also by life situations.
Precisely 45% of HIV cases in Uzbekistan affect women. The gender imbalance in HIV cases is formally explained by endemic regional and internal migration factors
The Ayol Yo’li festival will run for six weeks until December 3. The program includes interactive lectures and discussions on labor rights, environmental concerns, inclusivity, the impact of feminist ideas and movements on various forms of art, as well as workshops and film screenings.
To become part of this event, registering is essential.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)