Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — What does it take for a girl’s childhood dreams to come true? What barriers still prevent girls from achieving their goals? And how can boys become allies in building a society where every girl has the right to choose her own future?
These questions were discussed at an event titled “From Dreams to the Future: Girls’ Rights, Choices and Opportunities”, organised at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.
The event brought together 120 participants, including young people, women leaders, government representatives, experts and development partners. It aimed to strengthen dialogue between generations.
The initiative was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Youth Parliament under the Senate, Westminster International University in Tashkent and confectionery company Safia.
The initiative is being implemented under the regional CHANGE programme, “Changing Harmful Social Norms and Attitudes for Gender Equality”, funded by the European Union.
Registration was open to the public, enabling young people from different social backgrounds to take part in the discussion. The active participation of boys alongside girls was particularly important, as their role as allies and partners is essential to advancing girls’ rights and overcoming harmful gender stereotypes.
Education, leadership and equal opportunities
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Uzbek government, the European Union, UNFPA, academia, youth organisations and the private sector.
WIUT Rector Komiljon Karimov emphasised the role of education in creating new opportunities for girls and young women. He highlighted the need for an inclusive university environment where girls and boys can develop their talents, challenge stereotypes and confidently pursue their goals.
Renata Vrubel, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to promoting gender equality. She noted that initiatives under CHANGE help translate the principles of equal opportunity into practical action through cooperation with young people, local communities and government institutions.
Malika Kodirkhonova, a member of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women, Culture and Sports, stressed the importance of girls’ active participation in decisions concerning education, leadership and public life.
She said that supportive government policies, positive role models and broad opportunities were needed to enable young women to make a meaningful contribution to socioeconomic development.
Dr Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan and Country Director for Tajikistan, emphasised girls’ right to make independent decisions about their health and rights, as well as their freedom of choice.
Every girl should have access to quality education, reliable information, healthcare services and a safe environment, along with the knowledge, confidence and opportunities needed to make informed decisions.
She reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to a future in which every girl can realise her full potential free from discrimination, violence and harmful gender norms.
Laylo Aslanova, chair of the Youth Parliament under the Senate, highlighted the importance of youth participation in shaping decisions that directly affect their lives. She also emphasised the role of young people in challenging stereotypes and building a more inclusive society.
All the speakers shared one central message: girls’ dreams and aspirations must be supported by real opportunities, equal rights and favourable conditions for success.
Dialogue with women leaders
One of the most substantive parts of the event was an open discussion between women leaders from different professions and young female participants.
The invited speakers included Laylo Aslanova, Nigina Jabbarova, Madina Ruzmetova, Charos Kamalova and Elnora Ibragimova-Rizaeva, whose experience spans creative industries, leadership, law and inclusion.
The speakers shared stories of their childhood dreams, the people who supported them on their journeys, the challenges they faced and the stereotypes they overcame. They also spoke about periods of doubt, difficult decisions and lessons learned throughout their lives. Young participants had the opportunity to ask questions directly and see through real-life examples that there are many different paths to professional success.
Accessibility and inclusion received particular attention. Participants stressed that girls and young women with disabilities must have equal opportunities to participate actively in society, achieve their goals and make independent decisions about their futures.
The presence of boys also encouraged them to reflect on their personal responsibility for preventing discrimination, supporting girls’ aspirations and building relationships based on mutual respect and equality.
From dialogue to action: interactive activities
The programme went beyond traditional presentations and panel discussions. Specially designed interactive sessions helped participants learn to identify gender stereotypes, understand their underlying causes and explore ways to change them.
Through practical exercises, creative tasks and informal conversations, young people discussed how gender expectations affect educational choices, career goals, leadership opportunities and everyday decisions. The interactive area provided an open space where participants could freely express their ideas, reflect on personal ambitions and exchange views with their peers and women leaders.
The approach reinforced one of the event’s key principles: meaningful change begins when young people have opportunities to speak, ask questions, participate actively and be heard.
“From Dreams to the Future” campaign
The event also saw the presentation of Uzbekistan’s first large-scale nationwide online media challenge, “From Dreams to the Future”. The campaign was launched by UNFPA in cooperation with the Youth Parliament under the Senate and Safia.
In personal video stories, inspiring women from different professions share their childhood dreams, the barriers they overcame, the opportunities they found and the support they received on their paths to success.
The first woman featured in the campaign was Dilfuza Matkarimova, a road infrastructure safety specialist and the first woman from Uzbekistan to work as a marshal at Formula 1 races. Her story demonstrates that women can succeed in professions traditionally considered male-dominated.
Matkarimova was among 24 women from different countries selected by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) from more than 300 candidates to participate in the prestigious International Women Officials’ Exchange programme at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.
The challenge invites women from all regions of Uzbekistan to share their life stories, talk about the people who supported them and inspire others to pursue their dreams. The campaign will run until 8 March 2027, International Women’s Day, ensuring that the conversation about girls’ rights, freedom of choice and opportunities continues beyond a single day.
Working together for change
The event demonstrated the importance of bringing together young people, government bodies, educational institutions, women leaders, businesses and development partners around a shared goal: advancing girls’ rights and expanding their opportunities.
The combination of policy discussions, personal stories, intergenerational exchange and interactive activities helped participants better understand the impact of harmful social norms, meet inspiring role models and openly express their own aspirations. The active participation of boys underscored the importance of shared responsibility in promoting gender equality.
The ideas and proposals raised during the event will inform further public awareness work, advocacy and youth engagement initiatives under CHANGE.
The event’s central message was clear: every girl has the right to dream, choose her own path in life and receive support in building her future. Creating that future is a shared responsibility.
About the CHANGE programme
The regional CHANGE programme is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNFPA and UN Women.
It aims to transform harmful gender norms, promote gender equality and empower women through cooperation with national institutions, civil society organisations and local communities.
