There is a growing trend of domestic violence against women in Tajikistan.
According to a 2016 study conducted by the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan together with the international association Oxfam (Oxfam) and covered 400 people in six regions of Tajikistan, 97% of men and 72% of women believe that women are obliged to tolerate domestic violence in order to keep it.
The Committee on Women and Family Affairs receives calls on a daily basis, most often victims suffer from psychological violence from husbands or relatives. Most women come solely for talking to a psychologist about their family situation. When a woman is offered to invite her aggressor (often her husband), she often refuses.
According to psychological consultations, one conversation is not enough; conversations often last for several days. There are women who contact the committee every year.
The committee together with the PDV project of public international organization on prevention of domestic violence annually publishes a directory in which all support centers, shelters, temporary detention rooms, legal and psychological consultations are recorded. The guide is distributed to the population during information activities.
There is a focal point in practically every city of the Republic, a department, division and sector for women’s and family affairs.
Inquiries are also received in Dushanbe from other cities and districts. Awareness of the population on this issue remains low, as in most remote areas of the country the population leads a rather hidden way of life. People simply do not know about the existence of crisis centers, shelters and free counseling.
Javohir Akobirova, Head of the Gender Development and International Relations Department of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan, describes the purpose, location and functions of support centers and shelters.
A shelter is a temporary shelter for people in difficult situations. Including victims of domestic violence or victims of human trafficking and others. There is no single form of shelter. Shelters can be of different formats, i.e. they can help only women, men, children, or women with children.
– temporary accommodation;
– Safe living conditions for the victim;
– availability of trained personnel;
– free provision of medical, legal, psychological assistance independently or in cooperation with other organizations.
The victim is kept in the shelter for the period necessary for his or her psychological and social rehabilitation. It is important to note that in order to provide full protection to the victim, the location of the shelter is hidden from the public.
A crisis center (support center) is a social institution designed for social protection and rehabilitation. There are various forms of assistance from a crisis center:
A telephone helpline, the purpose of which is to listen to the victim, to understand the essence of the problem, to give him emotional support. In addition, the helpline allows you to make an appointment for a face-to-face consultation and receive all the information you need about the specialists you need.
Face-to-face counseling means a personal conversation with a specialist. Assistance is provided in the form of social and psychological support and legal counseling.
Another form of crisis center work is the shelter. Not all crisis centers (support centers) have the resources to set up shelters, since this is a labor-intensive task both financially and legally.
The approval of a model regulation and statutes for support centers falls under the purview of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. There are a total of 14 crisis centers throughout the republic – they are private, mostly working under public organizations. Three of them are currently functioning in Dushanbe:
– Women’s Self-Awareness Centre”. Address: 27a M. Tursunzoda Street, fourth floor, Tel: 93 517 77 56, markazi.bonuvon.dushanbe@gmail.com
– “League of Women Lawyers”. Address: 32/2 Ayni str. 7, phone: 221 24 49, lwl_toj@rambler.ru
– Center for Social and Legal Support of Women and Teenagers of Tajikistan “Femida”. Address: 137 Rudaki Ave. (“Tojikmatlubot”), Tel: 93 501 6292, femida-tj@mail.ru
There are also crisis centers throughout Tajikistan:
Khujand: “Zanon baroi adolat”. 1 Kirmonsho Street, tel: 93 836 45 45, farosat_kiba@bk.ru
“ASTI”. 24 Shuro St., tel: 92 777 90 15, asti.tajikistan@gmail.com
Vanch: “Sarparast”. March 8, building 9, tel. 93 581 96 46, tj_sarparast_vanj@mail.ru
Isfara: Umed. 22 Markazi str., tel: 927 70 04 06, umed_i@mail.ru
Istaravshan: “Zankho ziddi zurovari”. 186 I. Somoni str., phone: 988 65 31 65, nasrulloevb@yahoo.com
Ayni: “Kuhsor”. 55 Rudaki str., phone: 92 762 40 40, gulchehra.04@mail.ru
Penjikent: Zanoni Shark. 85 Rudaki str., tel: 92 809 29 28, nfotima@mail.ru
Balkh: “Oksana”. 24 Khaidarova Street, tel: 918 69 85 30, musmanova@mail.ru
Dusti: “Darmonbakhsh”. 35 Rudaki str., tel: 93 726 75 57, darmonbahhs@mail.ru
Khuroson: “Ma’rifat”. 1 Somoni St., tel: 93 440 20 64, marifatkhatlon@mail.com
Lakhsh: “Rohnamo”. 55 Somoniyon Street, tel: 93 889 57 12, rohnamo@mail.ru
There are currently seven shelters throughout the country, but only two of them are located in Dushanbe:
Shelter at the center of social and legal support for women and adolescents “Themis”.
In 2013, with the support of IOM (International Organization for Migration) a shelter was opened, which also housed victims of domestic violence. Since January of this year, the shelter has been operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. In the center itself, victims are provided with the necessary medical and legal assistance. If a woman who applies to “Themis” needs a shelter, her data are forwarded for consideration to the staff of the Ministry, which, if necessary, can place the victim in a shelter.
Shelter for women and children in crisis “Korvoni umed” (Caravan of Hope)
The shelter of the NGO Korvoni Umed is designed to accommodate up to 10 persons. After examining the victim’s situation, she is placed in a shelter where she can stay for up to three months or more. A woman can be refused accommodation with her son over 10 years old.
“Korvoni umed runs vocational training courses and gives women the opportunity to learn a profession and find a job. The NGO runs sewing courses and has cooking classes. As part of a project to protect women survivors of domestic violence, the NGO Korvoni Umed established a social café called “Chatr”.
Contact Information:
11 N. Hisrav St., tel: 900 00 12 22, director: Umeda Sadriddinova.
There are also Shelters located throughout Tajikistan:
“Gulrukhsor” Khujand, 111 R. Nabiev str., tel: 98 750 40 74, info@gulruhsor.tj
“Gamgori” Bokhtar city, 137 Vahdat str., tel.: (8) 322 227 879, w.c.ghamkhori@mail.ru
“Dilafruz” Bokhtar city, 68 Druzhba Narodiv str., tel: 91 865 92 93, ngodilafruz@mail.ru
“Maryam” “Kulyab city, 7, Nematov str., tel. 93 500 01 67
“Bonuvoni Fardo” 286 I. Somoni str. in Shartuz, tel.: (8) 324 022 888, anora.69@mail.ru
According to Javohir Akobirova, when a victim of domestic violence goes to them for help, first of all they talk to her and assess her emotional state. Then there is a conversation with a psychologist in order to calm the victim, followed by a conversation with a lawyer.
Further steps are taken based on the victim’s decision. The referral of the victim to a shelter or medical and social rehabilitation unit is based on her written consent. Depending on the complexity of a woman’s situation, she may be assigned to rooms at the Ministry of Health. These are generally found in maternity hospitals. These rooms are designed for a stay of up to 10 days. In Dushanbe, there are three of them:
Maternity Hospital #2, 8 Huseynzoda Street, tel: 907 77 29 77; 223 02 842.
The National Medical Center, 59 I. Somoni str., tel: 918 69 78 09; 907 27 27 22.
Istiklol Medical Complex, building B6, seventh floor, tel. 93 530 39 94; 903 77 05 73.
If the situation is very difficult and longer-term care is required, the woman is referred to a shelter (the Committee for Women and the Family works closely with the Korvoni-Umed). An official letter is drawn up requesting placement. Women can also apply directly to the shelter for help.
This publication was produced as part of the mentorship programme under the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project delivered by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) with support from the UK Government. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of IWPR or the UK Government