23 September, Tashkent - The media plays significant role in enhancing the transparency and inclusiveness of electoral process and promoting public awareness about elections. In consideration of the importance of this critical aspect of the electoral process, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan (CEC), and the Journalists Re-training Centre in partnership with UNDP Uzbekistan and the Embassy of Swiss Confederation in Uzbekistan organised the seminar-training to build the capacity of media representatives on effective coverage of elections. This course is part of the joint media training programme launched with support of the UNDP and the Embassy of Swiss Confederation in Uzbekistan in July 2021.

Today’s training was held in Hotel Radisson Blu and was attended by the representatives of the CEC press service staff and mass media, accredited by the CEC to cover the presidential election planned to hold on 24 October 2021.

The purpose of the training programme was to enhance professional skills of journalists on effective coverage of elections in the media. Experienced team of national and international media experts trained journalist on international legal standards and good practices of covering of elections, use of social media and promoting gender equality in elections. During the course, participants received the information about the most recent amendment to the electoral legislation and international standards of election monitoring which is to help journalists to observe every stage of electoral process in line with the Election Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Since 2019, the United Nations Development Programme jointly with the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, have been implementing the project "Support to the electoral process in Uzbekistan in 2019-2021" with the financial assistance of UNDP, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Government of Sweden, and the Embassy of Swiss Confederation. As part of the implementation of the main activities of the project, active work is underway to increase the capacity of election organizers and stakeholders, promote participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in elections, as well as to carry out electoral legal reforms to strengthen the electoral process in accordance with international legal standards and good practices.