OSCE Office supports practical referral mechanisms for protection of domestic violence survivors in Tajikistan

KURGAN-TYUBE, Tajikistan, 25 October 2016 – Promoting practical referral mechanisms for the protection of domestic violence survivors was the focus of an OSCE-supported workshop for 25 officials and members of civil society that took place today in Kurgan-Tyube, the administrative centre of Khatlon region, Tajikistan.

Participants from the OSCE-supported Women Resource Centres, state bodies and civil society organizations dealing with countering domestic violence, discussed good practices and shared experiences on inter-agency co-operation in providing support to domestic violence survivors. They also reviewed the challenges to and perspectives of such co-operation in Khatlon region.

“Civil society plays a crucial role at the grass-roots level in identifying and protecting domestic violence survivors,” said Ashurova Ziyoda, the Director of Women’s Resource Centre in Jaihun district. “Since Khatlon is the biggest region in the country and the organizations of this area are located far from each other, today’s meeting provides a unique platform for them to share experiences and strengthen the local referral networks to protect gender-based violence survivors.”

Viorelia Rusu, Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, said: “Strengthening the capacity of civil society and local authorities involved in promoting gender equality with a specific focus on building effective multi-agency and victim-centred approaches in protecting domestic violence survivors, is one of our priorities for this and the next year.”

The workshop was organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan in co-operation with Prevention of Domestic Violence Project run by German development consulting firm GOPA’s Branch in Tajikistan, through its regional network of NGOs from Khatlon region.

The event is part of the annual activities and commitments of the Office in implementing the OSCE’s 2004 Gender Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.