Women's rights are a strong guarantee of human dignity.

In a speech delivered on the 35th anniversary of our Independence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev described educated women who have established their place in society as a defining feature of the Third Renaissance, emphasizing that "educated women mean an educated family, an educated generation, and an enlightened society."

Indeed, an educated woman who is well-aware of her rights can have a positive impact not only on her own life but also on the destiny of her family, children, and surrounding community. In this sense, protecting women's rights and interests cannot be limited solely to the norms established in legislation. This issue is directly linked to family peace, child-rearing, social justice, human dignity, and societal development.

In recent years, the legal framework for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of women in our country has been significantly strengthened. Specific mechanisms have been introduced to ensure gender equality, create equal rights and opportunities for women, and protect them from oppression and violence.

In particular, the Presidential Decree "On additional organizational and legal measures to strengthen the protection of the rights of women and children and to prevent cases of oppression and violence against them," dated March 3, 2024, is of great importance in this regard. However, the adoption of a law is not the end of the process. On the contrary, its true essence is determined by the extent to which legal norms are reflected in people's lives and the degree to which individuals feel their rights are protected.

Today, women constitute 49.8 percent of the population of the Tashkent region. Their participation in public and state administration is also steadily increasing. Specifically, the fact that the share of female deputies in local Kengashes (Councils) has exceeded 34 percent indicates the growing engagement of women in socio-political life. Indicators in the education sector are also noteworthy. The fact that nearly 59 percent of students in the region's higher education institutions are young women shows their ever-increasing desire to acquire knowledge, learn a profession, and independently build their own futures.

Ultimately, ensuring women's rights and opportunities begins, first and foremost, with creating the conditions for them to receive an education and become economically independent. From this perspective, economic independence is one of the most important guarantees of women's rights. In 2023, the employment of more than 343,000 women was secured in the Tashkent region. Through the "Ayollar daftari" ("Women's Notebook"), targeted social, material, and legal assistance is provided to women in need. As of the beginning of 2024, 89,504 women had received financial support through this system.

Teaching a woman a profession, providing her with a job, offering subsidies or benefits for entrepreneurial activities, and providing legal advice when needed—at first glance, these may seem like simple measures. In reality, however, each one can open the door to new opportunities in an individual's life. Therefore, the most important goal of social support should not be to keep women in a state of constant need, but rather to create an environment where they can believe in their own strength, make independent decisions, and live a dignified life.

Legal literacy is also of particular importance in this regard. The "Guarantees of Women's Rights" legal campaigns, mobile receptions in mahallas (neighborhoods), and free legal consultations held in the Tashkent region serve to help the population, especially women, know their rights and exercise them effectively.

This issue becomes even more critical in preventing oppression and violence. Here, it is important not only to limit efforts to addressing the consequences of an incident but also to see the root of the problem, identify family discord early, listen to a woman's appeal in a timely manner, and support her legally, psychologically, and economically.

In a family where a woman's rights are protected, a child grows up in an atmosphere of trust, not fear. And in a society where a woman's dignity is upheld, justice is not merely a concept on paper but is manifested in daily life.

Gulnora Ahmedova,
Deputy of the Tashkent Regional Kengash

of People's Deputies,

UzA