As was noted in the ceremony, huge work has been carried out in Uzbekistan since the early years of independence to uphold and encourage women, including media workers, and enhance their knowledge and skills. To achieve the mentioned objectives, the Creative Union of Journalists regularly organizes some creative projects, contests, training seminars. Atirgul Competition annually held on the threshold of March 8, the International Women’s Day, exemplifies this activity. It helps to discover active, devoted women journalists, and support their innovative ideas and initiatives.

The participants underlined the growing number of participants of this competition year by year, evidencing of the increasing interest in it. For instance, more than 80 employees of TV and radio channels, newspapers and magazines, online editions, submitted more than a thousand creative works for the contest this year. They focused on topics such as promotion of a women’s status of in society, ensuring their legitimate rights and interests, protection of motherhood and childhood, upbringing of comprehensively advanced generation, enhancement of intellectual and spiritual potential of women and youth. 12 contestants were announced winners and 10 journalists were awarded consolation prizes.