On 12 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) facilitated the meeting of the Working Group on Improvement of Legal Acts on Elimination of Gender Stereotypes, Protection of Women's Rights, and Prevention of Domestic Violence. The event, organized by the Executive Office of the President, was held in Dushanbe and was attended by 40 (24 women, 16 men) representatives of Tajikistan's Government, civil society organizations, and international organizations.
The meeting aimed to discuss plans and progress on implementing the objectives related to the promotion of gender equality, women's empowerment, prevention of violence against women, and domestic violence of the newly approved National Strategy for Protection of Human Rights until 2038 and its Action Plan. The meeting also discussed the related recommendations for Tajikistan of the UN Human Rights Council under the universal periodic review for the period 2023 - 2026.
During the meeting, Firuza Nurullozoda,the Deputy Head of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs and the representative of the General Prosecutor's Office informed about the initiatives taken to improve Tajikistan's normative framework to eliminate gender stereotypes, protect women's rights, and prevent domestic violence. The participants also discussed the final version of amendments to the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The discussion also brought up the role that civil society organizations could play and the way they could support the Government in achieving the goals and targets related to the promotion of gender equality, women's participation, and fighting gender-based violence, including domestic violence.
The Working Group was set up by the Executive Office of the President, by the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council, to improve Tajikistan's legislation strengthening gender policies and protecting women's rights. The meeting is part of the Office's ongoing support to the Government of Tajikistan in fulfilling its OSCE commitments related to fostering equality between women and men, women's empowerment, and preventing and combatting violence against women.
