On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day every year. But we do not always consider the essence of this date.

In 1909, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions. In 1910, the Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women’s Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women’s rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance. In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March.

On March 4-7 this year, during the media tour in Bishkek, participants focused on widespread awareness of women on religious extremism around the world.

At the media tour, organized by the European Union, issues of preventing violent extremism that has ruined the lives of many women, destroys their dreams and condemns to slavery and humiliation were discussed.

During the four-day media tour, the Service for Combating Extremism and Illegal Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Commission on Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Muftiyat of Kyrgyzstan, and Umma Islamic Magazine informed participants on activities carried out for prevention of religious extremism. 

It was noted that activities on ensuring the rights and interests of women, strengthening their social protection in Central Asian countries, including in Uzbekistan, have been intensifying.

The participants of the event held negotiations at the Kyrgyz Association of Women Judges, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, Umma Islamic Magazine, the Central Mosque and other agencies.

At the meeting held at Kyrgyzstan’s Muftiyat, religious education of Kyrgyz women was considered. It was noted that women are receiving religious education in Khadija and Aisha schools. There are no such women among them who are on the path to religious extremism.

At the meeting, Deputy Mufti of Kyrgyzstan Jorobay Khaji Shergaziyev noted that Uzbekistan is a country of great thinkers and has a great experience in Islamic education and culture. He also expressed his satisfaction with development of bilateral cooperation.