Domestic Violence Law Seen as Milestone in Tajikistan
Domestic Violence Law Seen as Milestone in Tajikistan
Two leading women’s rights advocates in Tajikistan have expressed their delight that a law criminalising domestic violence has finally been passed.
Viloyat Mirzoeva and Alla Kuvvatova discussed the significance of the law, passed on December 19, in this edition of IWPR’s radio show for Tajikistan. Both emphasised that legislation was only the beginning of a long process.
When women marry in Tajikistan, they usually move into the groom’s home. It is not regarded as socially acceptable for neighbours or others to make inquiries if there seems to be trouble in the home, and police frequently ignore cases that are reported to them. Experts say those most at risk of violence at the hands of husbands and in-laws are typically young, uneducated and from rural areas.
Shahodat Saibnazarova is IWPR's radio editor in Tajikistan.
The audio programme went out in Russian on national radio stations in Tajikistan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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