In Uzbekistan, we support communities to advocate for their own security needs. In 2022–23 Saferworld and partners Istiqlol Avlodi and Istiqbolli Avlod worked with women-led civil society organisations in three regions – Jizzakh, Namangan and Tashkent – to lead on preventing conflict and addressing drivers of insecurity. We supported them to establish collaborative platforms called community security working groups, through which they worked with communities (particularly women and young people), local authorities and law enforcement officials to address security concerns. Many people voluntarily joined these groups, including representatives of local government agencies, community activists (such as makhalla – community leaders), women, young people, religious leaders, minorities and the police. Through training, workshops and mentorship, Saferworld and partners built people’s skills, including on peacebuilding concepts, conflict analysis, community security, and gender- and conflict-sensitive approaches, and supported civil society representatives to accompany the groups in their work. We identified many issues related to gender equality and how conflict is affecting vulnerable community members, and Saferworld has received funding from the EU for a follow-on project with an explicit focus on gender equality and improving service delivery for survivors of gender-based violence.
