UN welcomes the passage of the domestic violence bill in Tajikistan

The gender-based violence is a worldwide disease that knows no boundaries. It can threaten women and girls at any stage of their lives and can manifest itself in the form of domestic violence, rape, marital rape, sexual exploitation, trafficking and neglect of widows. In 2008 UN Secretary General started its global campaign UNiTE to end violence against women campaign – one of its five suggested targets for all countries to achieve by 2015 – adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls.

On 19 December 2012 Tajikistan has made a serious step forward to ensure practical enforcement of its commitments in the area of promotion of human rights and gender equality – the domestic violence law was adopted by the Parliament of Tajikistan.

According to Women and Men in the Republic of Tajikistan, a Digest prepared by Tajikistan's Statistical Agency, women are making an increased contribution to the economy and to the family budget. Yet, the advancement of women as equal participants in Tajikistan’s transition to a market economy has been jeopardized by a regression in participation of girls in education at all levels in Tajikistan. Concerns are also raised over the number of domestic violence cases, its rapid increase and in many cases tolerant attitude in the society to violence in families. “There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable” – states the UN Secretary General.

Thus it is indeed a pleasure to welcome an adoption of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence by the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan – it demonstrates a serious commitment to promote human rights and ensure life free of violence for all as well as contributes to enforcement of the international obligations assumed by Tajikistan adopted all key UN Conventions of human rights and gender equality. It is to congratulate women-activists’ movement in Tajikistan which initiated and sequentially lobbied for development and adoption of this important legal act. All efforts made to have this happened have shown that this initiative has broad support from the public and civil society and the international community in Tajikistan.

The Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence is the key legal framework to prevent domestic violence and to protect victims of domestic violence. This Law is one of many steps undertaken to enhance the protection and promotion of women’s rights in Tajikistan, and the international community stands by the Government of Tajikistan in its renewed commitment and efforts to address this issue. The law is adopted however, a lot has to be further done in order to make this inhuman practice not-acceptable and alien to the family and the society.