EU supports civil society development in Uzbekistan with five new projects

On April 28, the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan announced the launch of five new civil society projects, Gazeta.uz reports.

The total funding for these initiatives amounts to nearly €2.9 million. The projects aim to support Uzbekistan's ongoing reform agenda by strengthening civil society’s contribution to political dialogue, gender equality, legal education, and media literacy.

The EU-funded projects include:

• EQUALITY — a project aimed at strengthening civil society in the protection of women’s rights and the empowerment of women. It is implemented by ACTED in partnership with the Social Protection and Education Center Oq Yelkan ("White Sail"), the Yuksalish Information and Consultation Resource Center in Kashkadarya region, and the NGO center NIHOL in Uzbekistan.
• SHIELD — an initiative focused on promoting human rights and education, implemented by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in cooperation with the Development Strategy Center.
• Human Rights in Action — a project promoting change with the involvement of youth and NGOs, led by DVV International in partnership with the Barkaror Hayot International Social and Educational Center.
• Uzbekistan Digital Rights and Media Initiative (UDRMI) — implemented by the Center for the Development of Modern Journalism (CDMJ) together with the Legal Policy Research Center in Kazakhstan.
• Empowering Civil Society for Inclusive Development in Uzbekistan — implemented by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in cooperation with the Yuksalish movement.

According to the EU Delegation, these five initiatives combine national reach with targeted regional efforts. Activities will take place in Tashkent, Karakalpakstan, Namangan, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya.

Each project brings together European and Uzbek partner organizations. They are expected to build the capacity of civil society activists, support vulnerable groups, and foster engagement between civil society and government institutions at all levels.

“The launch of these projects reaffirms the European Union’s continued support for civil society in Uzbekistan. These initiatives reflect our shared goal of creating conditions for citizens to actively engage in issues of justice, gender equality, and information and digital rights. It’s about empowering citizens to shape more just, open, and resilient communities. A vibrant civil society is essential to building a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous future, and the EU is proud to be a reliable partner in this journey,” said EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar.

“These EU-supported projects mark an important step toward deepening cooperation between Central Asia and Europe, empowering civil society activists, and promoting rights-based development. I thank everyone contributing to this vital work,” said Akmal Saidov, Director of Uzbekistan’s National Center for Human Rights.