Summing up the Activities of the "Yuksalish" Movement in 2023

This year, it has been five years since the Nationwide Movement "Yuksalish" launched its activities. Based on the goals and tasks set for 2023, the Movement promoted new initiatives, implemented several social projects, made calls on current issues, expanded the direction of cooperation, and continued charity work.

The number of our members has reached 60,000

This year, more than 40,000 compatriots – public agencies, public organizations, youth representatives, compatriots abroad, businessmen, neighborhood activists and ordinary citizens who are not indifferent to the development of the country – acceded to the "Yuksalish" movement. They are active participants in reforms in our country, and we aim to unite them.

Joint projects with international organizations

This year, the delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan, the United Nations Children's Fund, the international non-governmental organization "Regional Dialogue", the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Eurasian Foundation, KOICA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany attracted about 2 million dollars in grants.

A number of social projects are implemented by the movement. One of them is the project "Socio-economic inclusion of young people in need of social protection, in a difficult situation and with disabilities". The partners of this project with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development are the German non-governmental non-profit organization Solidaritätsdienst International eV (SODI) and the Tashkent city "Umidvorlik" center. The goal is to improve the quality of life of young people aged 18-35 who are in a difficult situation by expanding their opportunities to exercise their civil rights and realize their personal and professional potential. Within the framework of the project, a social center for youth was established in Tashkent. The center provides free services of a social worker, psychologist, lawyer, IT trainer, business consultant, craftsman.

With the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and in cooperation with the Association of Local Governments of Latvia, the project "Planning a sustainable policy for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Uzbekistan" was launched. The joint project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of local government bodies, increasing public awareness of the socio-economic consequences of climate change, and planning a sustainable policy for mitigating the consequences of climate change and adaptation in Uzbekistan by involving the public in the decision-making process. . Bukhara and Surkhandarya regions were selected for the project.

Another project is aimed at conducting a series of public discussions on current topics with the support of the Eurasia Foundation within the framework of the "Social Innovations in Central Asia" program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Until today, the participation of citizens in the distribution of "Initiative budget" funds, socially responsible business in Uzbekistan, and the problems of ensuring the rights of labor migrants were discussed.

The "Empowerment" project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union in cooperation with "ARGO" Civil Society Development Association (Kazakhstan), "Women for a single future" international foundation (WECFI). The project for 2023-2025 includes gender policy to develop constructive dialogue on development, to expand active participation in the decision-making process by expanding women's rights in Uzbekistan, to implement global and national Sustainable Development goals by strengthening the capacity of civil society and women's organizations in the fight against violence against women aimed at contributing.

Also, the projects that had started in previous years, were continued. In particular, the "Yuksalish" movement, the UNICEF office in Uzbekistan and the Youth Affairs Agency announced the winning cities of the "Local Government for Children and Youth" initiative implemented in 6 regions of our Republic with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Additional funding in the amount of 30,000 US dollars was presented to the cities of Boston, Yangibozor and Kokand to implement measures to improve the well-being of children and youth in their area. During the year, the Working Group conducted monitoring. At the end of the project, the cities that have successfully implemented the action plans will be awarded the status of "Friendly City for Children and Youth".

The Summer School of Human Rights was organized within the framework of the project "Increasing the quality of application of international law in Uzbekistan" (EQUAL) implemented in cooperation with the International Commission of Jurists. In it, national and international trainers presented advanced and up-to-date information on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights and the best practical tools for civil society in Uzbekistan.

We promoted the reforms

The movement has been performing important and far-reaching tasks in any major political events taking place in the country. In particular, tasks related to the interests of the general public in the project of the state program "Year of human attention and quality education" were placed on social networks in the form of separate infographics. More than 50 public discussions and roundtables were organized in various circles.

Information was collected from all responsible offices and ministries in connection with the implementation of the state program and social and economic complex development programs of the regions, as well as presidential documents, and 182 monitoring activities were conducted to ensure timely and proper implementation of the items. Over 500 different objects were studied. As of December 1, 2023, 198 of the 258 tasks defined in the State Program have been implemented.

Comprehensive measures were implemented to support the holding of the Referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In particular, activities were carried out in 6 directions in order to convey the essence of the draft Constitution in the new version to the general public.

24 interactive video materials, 15 special animated video clips, and 30 electronic posters were prepared on the articles of the newly revised Constitution. 14 types of flyers and booklets were prepared in Uzbek and Russian languages ​​and 1.54 million copies were published.

The movement prepared 20 infographics and other media materials in order to introduce the programs of the candidates for the presidential elections of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the general public and to help cover the debates. Films from the interesting parts of televised debates of representatives of the presidential candidates were also widely distributed.

We conducted forums and research

"Yuksalish" movement actively worked in the direction of civil society. In 2023, 2 forums were held at national and regional level:

- "Bridges of Friendship in the Fergana Valley" Central Asian Youth Forum (July);

- Forum of Women's NGOs (August).

The traditional "Civil Society Week" was organized in 13 venues for 4 days. More than 2,000 representatives of ministries and agencies, local government bodies, non-governmental non-profit organizations, experts, active citizens and mass media participated in forums, open discussions, roundtable discussions, presentation and awarding events on 22 topics. This time, attention was paid to current issues, from drinking water supply to socially responsible business, disability and gender equality, and administrative reforms.

This year, 12 issues of the monthly e-newsletter "Democracy in Uzbekistan" covering events in Uzbekistan, legislative news, comments on the activities of NGOs and other institutions of civil society, were prepared and published in Uzbek, Russian and English.

"Grants and Internships" Telegram channel is running. It contains information about grants announced by not only local but also foreign donors.

As part of the "Anticorruption Laboratory" project, which has been operating under the Yuksalish Movement since 2020, 2 studies were conducted. One is on the topic of "Assessing factors of integrity and corruption risks in student grading in higher education" (16 HEIs in 14 cities from all regions of our republic were covered), and the second is "Assessing Factors of Integrity and Corruption Risks in Obstetrics" (in 7 regions of our republic, 21 maternity hospitals were involved). The final results of the research were discussed with the participation of relevant field experts.

Also, within the framework of the "Cross-border and multilateral dialogue for tolerance and peace in Central Asia" project, the "Correct coverage of issues related to extremism and terrorism in mass media" guide for journalists and the "For friendship and peace along the Great Silk Road" manual for teachers were developed for use in schools.

Within the framework of the "Help to the population" project, a practical manual was prepared on the mobilization of neighborhoods and local governments in the implementation of projects aimed at improving the living conditions of the needy segments of the population.

Good deeds on our special focus

Charity actions and social campaigns are a special direction of movement activity. In particular, the campaign "Hayot ulash" was launched in the fall of this year. As part of the action, it is aimed to provide clean drinking water to about 40 thousand residents of remote areas of Uzbekistan. Until today, the residents of remote neighborhoods in Khorezm, Navoi and Samarkand regions have enjoyed water. Well digging works have been completed in Surkhandarya region, and soon our compatriots will be provided with clean drinking water. All information about funds received and spent as part of the campaign is constantly announced on the Hayotulash.uz website and on the @hayotulash Telegram channel.

"One million trees" action has been held by Harakat for four years now. During this time, about 4 million tree saplings were planted throughout our republic every spring and autumn. This year, "green fields" were organized in 5 socially significant objects in the capital - "Avenue of Writers", the Republican Center for Social Adaptation of Children and 3 schools in the capital. A total of about 150 tree and shrub seedlings were planted.

The number of our followers has increased

In 2023, about 15,000 posts and materials were posted on the Movement's social media channels and pages, about 210 infographics, more than 120 banners, about 80 videos and animations, 2 books, and 4 brochures were prepared. More than 250 materials were published in print and electronic media. The total coverage in social networks was about 86.3 million.

During the year, about 40 appearances by the Central apparatus (participation of experts in TV shows, interviews, reports), and about 310 appearances by regional units (interviews and videos) were made on republican and local TV channels. 3 animated videos were prepared and shown on "Uzbekistan24", "Sevimli TV", "Mening Yurtim" TV channels.

"Daily Politics" information channel was launched in April 2023. In it, weekly messages are prepared in English and presented to international partners. About 90 video news, more than 60 information in the form of infographics were posted during the year.

We have received the status of an international organization

This year, the "Yuksalish" movement sought to expand its activities not only in Uzbekistan, but also at the level of the Central Asian region, and to develop public diplomacy. In particular, two cities of Uzbekistan - Kokan and Termiz and two cities of Turkey - Balikesir and Shakhinbey became sister cities with the initiative of the Movement for Strengthening the Cooperation of the Turkic World Countries.

National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations of Uzbekistan, Sustainable Development Center, USA "Eurasia Foundation Inc." signed Memorandums of cooperation with the state public association.

In 2023, the first foreign representative office of the Movement was established in Turkey. In order to further expand the possibilities of international cooperation, to reach a new stage of development, the "Yuksalish" movement received the status of an international organization.

In 2024, we aim to promote Uzbekistan's reforms in foreign countries, strengthen cooperation with foreign public and non-governmental circles, institutions.

Press service of the movement "Yuksalish".