Oral is the director of the Center Perzent in Nukus, Uzbekistan. A gynecologist and an expert on reproductive health, Oral established the Center Perzent to increase public awareness about environmental issues, and promote women's rights in order to improve the health and status of women and children in the region. Oral Ataniyazova won the Goldman Prize in 2000 for her work addressing the Aral Sea crisis. The Aral Sea, once a large inland sea in Uzbekistan, is on the verge of disappearance.

The activities of Center Perzent include coordinating a women's support network addressing environmental health problems resulting from toxic pollutants, conducting research studies on reproductive health issues, organizing environmental education programs for school children, and coordinating a breast cancer information campaign. With branches in several rural districts, Perzent has created a 50-acre organic farm, a women’s clinic and a publishing house. To fully involve the local people, Perzent actively solicits ideas from communities for practical solutions to the region’s problems. More than 10,000 people have been involved in the organization’s activities.

The Aral Sea has region had been heavily polluted by pesticides used in cotton production, metals from mining operations, and chemicals from factories and the resulting extreme levels of pollution are causing serious public health problems, such as increased rates of anemia, kidney and liver diseases and birth defects. Women and children represent the majority of those affected.

Ataniyazova has worked on these issues at the national, regional and international levels. As an expert in reproductive health, she has been a key spokesperson addressing various international agencies, including the United Nations. Despite many difficulties during the past two decades, Ataniyazova has helped improve the health and status of women and children in one of the world’s most dramatic ecological hot spots.

“Many developing countries aren't protected from the importation of low-quality products and toxic waste. The ecologic illiteracy of political leaders and economic corruption worsens the difficult position of people in these developing countries… it is very important that governments fulfill their obligations to their citizens—clean drinking water, ecological security, high-quality products, etc. It is not possible to achieve this without public activism, ecological literacy, access to information, the possibility to expose corruption, and the possibility to influence decisions….I think that the role of women in this is very important because women carry a large responsibility for their children, and without solutions for ecological and economic problems, there won't be a future for our children…The UN could play an important role, if they would support certain sustainable principles. At times, the unprincipled positions of the UN further complicate and worsen the situation.”(OA, Aug 05, www.globalfundforwomen.org)

“During 15 years working at the grassroots NGO Perzent (also co-founder). We are working with women and children in one of most dramatic crisis region – the Aral Sea. We working in rural regions to help women and families to survive in current condition and improve their life."

“ I am leading the programs which supports women in 8 districts of Karakalpakstan Republic. We provide activities on different subjects – environment, health, organic farming, water & hygiene problems, Reproductive health. Our activities include educational campaign, training of women to improve their skills, providing practical assistance, etc.  With our activities we covering about 150.000 people, about 80% of them are women.”