Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A three-day training workshop titled “Gender Equality in the Mahalla: Legal, Religious and Psychological Approaches” has kicked off in Tashkent. The training is organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in cooperation with the Mahalla Association of Uzbekistan and brings together 40 regional coordinators and representatives of the nationwide "Seven" system from across the country.

The initiative aims to strengthen local institutional capacity through a comprehensive, culturally sensitive approach to preventing gender-based violence and advancing equality.

“Mahallas are the frontline of social cohesion in Uzbekistan,” noted Matluba Umurzakova, Deputy Representative of UNFPA in Uzbekistan, in her opening remarks. “By equipping specialists with the skills to recognize gender stereotypes, support survivors, and foster inclusive leadership, we are turning state-level gender reforms into practical change for every household.”

Jovdatkhon Inagamov, First Deputy Chairman of the Mahalla Association, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership with UNFPA: “Empowering mahallas to promote gender equality and prevent violence is a shared strategic priority. This training is another key step to ensure local leaders are equipped with the tools to create safe, inclusive communities.”

The program builds on a previous seminar held in February 2025 and expands the role of mahallas as vital hubs of community resilience and security. A unique feature of the current course is its integration of legal, religious, and psychological frameworks to offer a systemic response to violence against women and girls.

Over the course of three days, participants will:

– Deepen their understanding of gender concepts and learn to identify stereotypes in everyday practice;
– Explore religious principles that affirm equality and condemn violence;
– Study legal protections for women’s rights at both national and international levels;
– Master inclusive leadership and governance practices;
– Practice survivor-centered approaches to responding to cases of gender-based violence.

The project is implemented with the support of the British Embassy in Tashkent under the UK’s International Security Fund programs. It contributes to the implementation of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 137 of 15 March 2024, which introduced the “Mahalla Yettiligi” system. It also supports the goals of the national “Uzbekistan–2030” strategy, in which gender equality is recognized as a key pillar of sustainable development.

The Mahalla Association, which coordinates the activities of 9,452 mahalla committees nationwide, plays a critical role in realizing these goals. As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted in his address on International Women’s Day on 7 March 2025, the government plans to allocate an additional 3.3 trillion soums to support women’s entrepreneurship in mahallas. Furthermore, US$100 million will be mobilized through family business programs, with commercial banks matching that amount in unsecured loans to self-employed women.

By strengthening local leadership and uniting legal and cultural approaches, the UNFPA-led initiative is helping transform mahallas into spaces of equal opportunity, safety, and human dignity for all members of society.