Despite government efforts, the overall situation for domestic violence victims in Tajikistan has not improved significantly, with the domestic violence prevention law proving to be ineffective. These conclusions were drawn by researchers who analyzed the situation over the past years and provided recommendations to prevent this "epidemic."
The study, titled "My Life Ended After Marriage," focusing on the epidemic of domestic violence against women in Tajikistan, was released in February this year. The report was prepared by the Belgian non-governmental organization "International Partnership for Human Rights" (IPHR) in collaboration with three Tajik public foundations: "Notabene," "Your Choice," and "Tashabbusi Hukuki" ("Legal Initiative").
Researchers conducted surveys among over 25 women who had experienced violence, as well as engaged with local and international experts, activists, lawyers, and human rights defenders.
A similar report on domestic violence in Tajikistan was published in 2017. The authors note that since then, the Tajik authorities have taken several important steps to address this issue: ongoing work on reforming relevant legislation, the submission of a draft law specifically addressing domestic violence, the establishment of a helpline, and the opening of the Republican Center for Social Services for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
