Conference of Central Asian Women Journalists in Tashkent: A Regional Program Through 2029 Under Discussion

The second international conference of Central Asian women media professionals was held in Tashkent on Sept. 14–15. The event was organized under the theme “Regional Solidarity, Digital Security and an Inclusive Future for Journalism.”

The conference brought together more than 100 women journalists, editors, media managers, digital content creators, bloggers, international experts and human rights advocates from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The 2026–2029 program

Participants discussed a regional program for 2026–2029. The program provides for mutual assistance and the exchange of experience, as well as a mechanism for a coordinated response to threats against journalism.

Digital security as the central theme

The main portion of the program was devoted to digital security. The agenda included online harassment and the spread of disinformation using deepfakes.

Separate sessions examined the impact of psychological pressure on journalists, the protection of personal data, and methods of safeguarding newsroom systems during a digital attack.

• Dates: Sept. 14–15, 2026
• Venue: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Participants: more than 100, from five countries
• Program period: 2026–2029
• Main areas: digital security, deepfakes, professional burnout, cross-border journalism

A guide to gender-sensitive journalism

Participants planned to develop a regional guide to gender-sensitive journalism intended for Central Asian newsrooms. The document is expected to include practical recommendations for covering gender-related subjects professionally, responsibly and in a balanced way.

Other topics discussed

The program included sessions on women in media management, professional burnout and resilience, as well as cross-border journalism and climate-focused initiatives.

Cross-border journalism is an area of practical importance for Central Asia: water allocation, migration, border issues and climate change are among the subjects difficult to cover fully within the confines of a single country.

Gender imbalance in the professions

On the same day as the conference, The Times of Central Asia published research on the persistently low share of women in engineering professions in Uzbekistan. One example cited noted that of more than 100 students admitted to an energy college, only 16 were women.

Such data forms part of the regional discussion of occupational segregation — that is, the distribution of women and men across different fields.

Context

The media sector in Central Asia has migrated to digital platforms in recent years. This has expanded audiences on one hand, and on the other has exposed journalists to new risks such as online harassment and the disclosure of personal data.

Deepfakes and disinformation

A deepfake is a fabricated video or audio recording created with the help of artificial intelligence. It shows a real person's likeness and voice saying words they never said.

The technology for creating such material has become cheaper and more widespread in recent years. For journalists this creates a two-sided problem: on one hand, they may themselves become victims of fabricated material; on the other, the need to verify the authenticity of circulating material increases.

These two aspects — personal protection and fact-checking methods — were precisely what the conference program addressed.

Online harassment

International research notes that women journalists face online harassment more often than their male colleagues. The harassment is frequently directed at the person rather than constituting professional criticism.

Its consequences include self-censorship, abandoning certain subjects and leaving the profession.

Separate sessions at the conference were devoted to psychological pressure and professional burnout.

Digital security practices

For newsrooms, digital security generally consists of several practical steps: two-factor authentication, encrypted communication channels, storing source information separately and a system of backups.

When an attack occurs, a prepared action plan is required: whom to contact, which accounts to block and how to inform the audience.

Cross-border journalism

Cross-border journalism is an area of practical importance for Central Asia. Water allocation, migration, border issues and climate change are among the subjects difficult to cover fully within the confines of a single country.

The water allocation agreed for the Amu Darya for the period from October 2025 to October 2026, for example, concerns the interests of five countries; covering it from the perspective of a single country does not give the full picture.

The same is true of climate: international reports indicate that the volume of the region's glaciers has shrunk by roughly 30 percent compared with the last century, and this concerns every country.

Women in media management

The theme of women in media management was also included in the program. International statistics note that while the share of women working in journalism is high, their representation in leadership positions is lower.

This trend is also observed in Central Asia and is part of a broader discussion of occupational segregation.

That same day, The Times of Central Asia published research on the persistently low share of women in engineering professions in Uzbekistan. It cited family pressure, barriers in hiring and working conditions as the main causes.

Tashkent as a venue

Holding the conference in Tashkent reflects the city's role as a hub for regional events. A number of international forums and meetings were organized in the capital over the course of 2026.

The 18th meeting of the Uzbekistan–Japan economic cooperation committees was also held in the city that week; more than 130 Japanese participants attended.

Concluding documents

The full text of the documents adopted at the conference's conclusion and the mechanism for implementing the program are expected to be announced separately.

A regional guide to gender-sensitive journalism is also planned; no publication date has been given.

The region's media landscape

Media systems have developed differently across the Central Asian states. The common trend is the migration of audiences from traditional television and newspapers to social networks and messaging apps.

Telegram, YouTube and Instagram are among the most widely used platforms in the region. Many newsrooms gather their core audience on precisely these channels.

This shift demands new skills of journalists: video editing, writing for short formats and direct engagement with the audience.

Diaspora media

Media play a distinct role for communities originating from the region. For Uzbek, Kazakh and Kyrgyz communities in the United States, Turkey, South Korea and Russia, native-language channels serve as a source of information.

Such channels often distribute practical information: processing documents, legal assistance, community events. In July 2026, an officially registered association of the Uzbek diaspora was established in Seattle.

Participating countries

Representatives came to the conference from five countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Gathering all five countries on one platform is a relatively new practice for regional formats.

The number of such formats has grown in the region in recent years: consultative meetings of Central Asian heads of state, “C5+1” formats with external partners and sectoral forums are held regularly.

The full text of the documents adopted at the conference's conclusion and the mechanism for implementing the program are expected to be announced separately.