OSCE Office launches nationwide 16 days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign in Tajikistan

TAJIKISTAN, 25 November 2016 – As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence global campaign, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan launched a nationwide awareness-raising drive in five target regions with a special focus on remote areas. The campaign, from 25 November to 10 December 2016, will reach 42 settlements and the events include mobile theatre performances, television and radio programmes, interactive information sessions as well as thematic meetings.

The first activity within the campaign, an interactive information session, was held on 24 November at the Pedagogical College in Panjakent town, Sughd region, bringing together some 300 people, of all ages, to discuss gender equality, gender-based violence and the national and international legal framework in this area. At the information session, organized jointly with the local OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centre and local authorities, awareness-raising materials containing information on available assistance services in the country were distributed.  

Mahbuba Mamadatokhonova, National Gender Officer at the OSCE Office said that the nationwide campaign is an effective tool to raise awareness among the population in the most remote areas of the country. “Every year, the OSCE Office supports such activities in the provinces, thus facilitating access to information for the community, including those who experienced gender-based violence."   

Last year the campaign reached almost 5,300 people directly and 300,000 people through television and radio programmes in 25 settlements across Tajikistan.