Online training on prevention of violence against women for employees of the education system

October 29, 2020

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

On October 28, in order to improve the potential of staff in education system of the country in the fight against discrimination against women, an online training seminar was organized on the topic “Preventing discrimination, harassment and violence against women and combating violence”.

The training seminar was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher and Secondary-Specialized Education, within the framework of the project of the Ministry of Support for Mahalla and Family in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) “Empowering women to participate in public administration and socio-economic life ”with the financial support of the Swedish Embassy.

The training was attended by 200 psychologists in the system of higher and secondary-specialized education, as well as 300 chairmen of Women's Councils.

Deputy Minister of Higher and Secondary-Specialized Education for Youth and ICT Y.Absoatov drew attention to the importance of the seminar and noted: “Today, the system of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary-Specialized Education is conducting educational work to improve the legal knowledge of teachers and student in the fight against violence; identification of persons prone to violence; provision of prompt psychological assistance and implementation of preventive programs when psychological or behavioral disorders are detected in students, or a propensity for violence is found in them; understanding the procedure for using a protective order; paying special attention to children growing up in disadvantaged families”.

At the training, doctor of Law Lola Saidova delivered a lecture on the topic of preventing violence against women and combating its different types. The participants familiarized themselves with international norms of the fight against discrimination and violence against women, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The seminar participants discussed plans to be implemented in the education system in accordance with this Convention.

The training participants were also taught about the role of psychologists of educational institutions and chairmen of the Women's Council in the implementation of the Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the protection of women from oppression and violence” and “On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for women and men” and the significance of these documents. In addition, they learned about best international practices to identify and combat forms of harassment and violence.

In addition, psychologist Azizakhon Tashkhodjaeva shared her recommendations on working with women who have been subjected to violence and harassment. As part of the online training, psychologists received skills to identify students prone to suicide; provision of prompt psychological assistance; analyzing the causes and conditions that can lead to harassment and violence in educational institutions and developing mechanisms to prevent them.

Participants of the training contributed with their ideas and suggestions. For example, Dilobar Ruzieva, chairwoman of the Women's Council of the Tashkent State Economic University, noted: “An educational institution should increase the responsibility of its employees and be attentive to others in order to prevent violence. Collaboration between parents, families, teams and educational institutions can help achieve these goals. Based on today's lectures, we will definitely increase responsibility in our educational institutions. The information and presentations that were presented should be disseminated in each educational institution and used in the learning process”.

At the end of the event, the participants suggested introducing courses in schools and higher educational institutions in such disciplines as "Human Rights", "Gender Equality", "Preparing Boys for Life" and "Psychology" and with the help of these courses to increase self-confidence in boys and girls, to help them formulate their plans for life, to motivate to acquire knowledge and learn a profession, which can become an important part of preventing violence against women in the future