Taking an additional step towards empowering young women from Central Asia and Afghanistan to play an active role in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, the Young Women 4 Peace: Empowering Central Asian Young Women Initiative arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 8 to 10 April.
Bringing together regional voices and perspectives to promote peace and security through youth leadership and cross-border collaboration, the three-day program included a high-level opening with EU and OSCE representatives, as well as Uzbek authorities, and an interactive panel discussion on strengthening networks of young women.
The Young Women for Peace Initiative is funded by the European Union, testifying to the strong partnership between the EU and OSCE on gender equality, and the special attention to promoting regional approaches, especially in Central Asia.
The event in Tashkent included intensive training sessions dedicated to the collaborative development of cross-border project proposals focused on innovative approaches to women’s empowerment and inclusion in peacebuilding processes.
Young women will present the outcomes of their collaborative projects in Vienna in September 2025, showcasing what young women can achieve in building a more secure world, when given the right platform and support.
Launched in 2024, Young Women 4 Peace is a two-year, transformative initiative implemented under the OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN for Women and Men – Strengthening Comprehensive Security through Innovating and Networking for Gender Equality project, funded by the European Union. The initiative empowers 18 young women aged 18 to 30 from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan.
