Tashkent Hosts Dialogue on Islamic Values and Women’s Rights

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A high-level dialogue and national training seminar titled “The Role of Islamic Values in Protecting Women’s Rights in Uzbekistan” is taking place in Tashkent from 24 to 26 March 2026.

The event is organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in cooperation with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, the Committee on Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan, the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, the Mahalla Association of Uzbekistan, and the Embassy of Egypt, with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom.

The three-day event has brought together representatives of government bodies, religious institutions, mahallas, academia, as well as leading professors from Al-Azhar University.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Chairperson of the Committee on Women and Family Zulaykho Makhkamova.

It was noted that the dialogue aligns with ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan aimed at ensuring gender equality and protecting women’s rights. Participants emphasized the importance of harmonizing international and national legal norms with principles enshrined in religious sources, as well as the need to overcome harmful social stereotypes.

The event places particular emphasis on strengthening measures to prevent violence against women and minors, as well as enhancing legal and institutional mechanisms in this area.

According to UNFPA, religious leaders have significant potential to influence social norms and can contribute to promoting values of justice, dignity, and respect for women.

The seminar program covers issues such as women’s rights in Islam, prevention of gender-based violence, family planning and reproductive health, expanding women’s socio-economic opportunities, and developing communication and counseling skills.

As part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNFPA and the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan.

It was noted that more than 800 representatives of religious institutions and mahallas have already been engaged through previous joint initiatives, and the current seminar aims to further expand this work.

The initiative is being implemented במסגרת a regional program funded by the Government of the United Kingdom and is aimed at strengthening prevention and response to violence against women and girls in Central Asia.

Practical recommendations, stronger inter-institutional cooperation, and enhanced professional capacity in the field of women’s rights protection are expected outcomes of the event.