As part of Component 6, aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and promoting the regional women’s movement, the Spotlight Initiative contributes to the development of regional leadership, coordination, knowledge exchange, and networking among organizations working to protect women’s rights. This is done to support collective and strategic engagement between CSOs, governments, and other stakeholders within the broader Central Asia SGBV Alliance.
Component 6 focuses on:
a) establishing a School of Gender Activists;
b) developing a civil society strategy to drive behavioral change regarding gender-based violence (GBV);
c) implementing strategy-based initiatives to prevent violence against women and girls.
These objectives were successfully implemented by UN Women in collaboration with the national partner “Gender and Development”, under the joint project to strengthen civil society, enhance the human and institutional capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) in addressing GBV, and support youth and vulnerable populations affected by multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination.
RESULTS
Establishment of the School of Gender Activists
This unique educational platform on gender issues attracted leaders and specialists from civil society organizations across the country.
The first 20 graduates of the School acquired substantial knowledge and skills in legal frameworks, practical mechanisms, current trends, and approaches to combating gender-based violence.
The knowledge and experience were successfully cascaded through follow-up trainings conducted by the graduates in their local communities, reaching over 200 individuals, including women, men, and youth, and vulnerable groups (e.g., persons with disabilities, women living with HIV, and low-income families).
As representatives of civil society, the gender activists consistently and constructively apply the acquired knowledge and skills in their advocacy and practice to protect the rights of women and children.
Development of a Civil Society Strategy to Promote Behavioral Change on GBV
A CSO Strategy and Action Plan was developed to promote behavioral changes related to GBV and support the implementation of initiatives to prevent violence against women and girls.
More than 40 CSOs working in the field of women’s and children’s rights adopted the core principles of the Strategy and committed to aligning their activities with its goals and objectives.
Implementation of Strategy-Based Initiatives to Prevent GBV
Significant results were achieved through small grant initiatives aimed at changing behavior related to gender-based violence.
Six of the most relevant and innovative proposals were selected and supported under the project. These actions focused on building new behaviors based on zero tolerance for violence and discrimination against women and girls.
Through the support of just 6 civil society organizations, with a total grant amount of 458,823 TJS, a total of 2,942 direct beneficiaries were reached. These included a wide range of target groups and creative approaches:
– storytelling with primary school students,
– school graduate clubs (Presidential Scholarship recipients),
– youth groups and social entrepreneurship,
– women with disabilities,
– legal consultations,
– local council members (SDG 5 ambassadors), and more.
The initiatives made a significant contribution to achieving the program’s main goal — reducing violence against women and girls, as demonstrated by the outcomes of these grant-supported interventions.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
UN Women – the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their rights worldwide.
🌐 www.unwomen.org
Public Organization “Gender and Development”
The organization continues the work of the former “Women in Development” Bureau, established in 1995 by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with support from UNDP. Its core mission is to strengthen the women’s movement in Tajikistan.
Focus areas include:
– gender mainstreaming, gender sensitivity, and planning,
– gender approaches in conflict resolution,
– gender justice and equality in decision-making,
– gender equality in public policy,
– women’s participation in governance,
– leadership and women’s leadership development,
– women’s rights and human rights,
– international standards and national legislation,
– the role of media in creating a gender-positive environment, and
– gender advocacy and outreach.
