Training Center for Socially Vulnerable Women opens in Tashkent

Officials from district Hokimiats, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Inter-Agency Commission on Combating Trafficking-in-Persons attended the ceremony held at USAID non-governmental partner’s Istiqbolli Avlod’s Tashkent City Social-Information Center.

The USAID Reintegration for Trafficking Survivors Project, implemented by Istiqbolli Avlod, funded the Center. The project helps prevent human trafficking by expanding access to vocational training for socially vulnerable women. While the main beneficiaries of the Training Center will be survivors of human trafficking, other vulnerable groups can access the Center. The Center will reduce the risk of victims’ exposure to trafficking by providing a variety of job training, including: sewing, cosmetology, and computer literacy skills.

“Working together with government and non-government actors, we strive to abolish this injustice by supporting a Training Center that will provide on-demand job skills training for women and girls from socially disadvantaged families and as well survivors of human trafficking,” said the US Ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen.

The Training Center’s operation is based on an active social partnership. Istiqbolli Avlod will select volunteer experts to share their knowledge with the Center’s beneficiaries. Istiqbolli Avlod will run the Center in cooperation with the Women’s Committee and local community – “mahallas” from all of Tashkent’s districts.

The total amount provided by USAID to equip the Training Center is US$36,000. Since 1992, USAID has provided more than US$383 million in assistance to Uzbekistan.