The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the In-Service Training Center for Journalists of Uzbekistan and Search for Common Ground, celebrated the accomplishments of an initiative to promote religious tolerance through media in Uzbekistan.
At the event, Edward Michalski, Acting Director of the USAID Mission in Uzbekistan, stressed that the government, media, religious organizations, and civil society must collaborate to ensure the media educates, informs, and promotes peace, understanding, and tolerance.
“Religious practice can bring great benefits to society, but only when people have access to reliable information, and when there is a culture of respect and tolerance for diverse and differing viewpoints,” he added.
The U.S. government promotes universal respect for the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as enshrined in the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In September 2023, USAID and its partners launched a 14-month project to promote principles of inter-religious and intra-religious tolerance through media in Uzbekistan.
With a budget of over $377,700, the project aimed to foster trust and information sharing between key media stakeholders, diverse religious leaders, and representatives of key state institutions. Experts led trainings and approximately 30 dialogues in Andijan, Bukhara, Fergana, Namangan, Nukus, Tashkent, and Urgench.
These sessions delved into the historical context of religious traditions fostering inter-religious harmony and highlighted the contemporary experiences of believers within the country. Participants received a unique hands-on experience through visits to local mosques, orthodox parishes, and madrasas, enriching their perspectives on Uzbekistan's diverse religious landscape.
The project additionally developed educational videos and crafted a comprehensive guidebook titled "Media and Coverage of Inter-Religious Tolerance," aimed at equipping media professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to cover religious tolerance.
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