Addressing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Successes, Challenges, and Coordination Efforts

One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, and the immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death. Violence negatively affects women’s general well-being and prevents women from fully participating in society. It impacts their families, their community, and the country at large. It has tremendous costs, from greater strains on health care to legal expenses and losses in productivity.

At least 155 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, and 140 have legislation on sexual harassment in the workplace (World Bank 2020). But challenges remain in enforcing these laws, limiting women and girls’ access to safety and justice. Not enough is done to prevent violence, and when it does occur, it often goes unpunished. In Tajikistan, according to the Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, between 50 and 80 per cent of women and children are subjected to violence. The UN estimates that a third of women in Tajikistan are abused by their husbands and close relatives, but few seek help.

This diverse gathering aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders, highlighting successful strategies, identifying persistent challenges, and enhancing coordination efforts to effectively address and respond to GBV. The roundtable will serve as a pivotal platform for exchanging insights on both successes and challenges encountered while implementing state policies to prevent domestic violence. It will provide a valuable opportunity to evaluate the collaborative efforts between government and non-governmental organizations in combatting violence throughout 2023-2024. The discussions will emphasize the importance of sustaining these efforts beyond the project's completion.

The roundtable will convene 70 participants from a wide range of organizations in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Attendees includes representatives from governments, international organizations, public institutions, gender equality experts, women's rights activists, journalists, and media professionals.

Join this vital dialogue to address gender-based violence (GBV) and promote efforts to combat violence. Join us in Dushanbe on July 31, and help shape a more equitable and sustainable future.  

This event is coordinated by the UN Women Tajikistan with cooperation of Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. The forum is organized in partnership with US Embassy, Embassy of France, UN RC, NGO “Gender and Development”.

For more information, please contact: Davroni Davronzoda, National Communications Consultant, UN Women Tajikistan, e-mail: davroni.davronzoda@unwomen.org.