Asia-Plus (13 July 2024): Tajikistan plans to criminalise domestic violence ('Saltanat Law' echo)

Asia-Plus («Азия-Плюс»), in a 13 July 2024 article, reports on the Central Asian Alliance to Eradicate Gender-Based Violence conference in Almaty on 27–28 June 2024 and on Tajikistan’s plans to adopt a “Saltanat Law” («Закон Салтанат») criminalising domestic violence. The article reports Sabokhat Rustam (Сабохат Рустам), head of the information department of Tajikistan’s government Committee on Women’s and Family Affairs, saying the 2013 Law “On the Prevention of Violence in the Family” is being amended, that a working group under the President’s executive apparatus is drafting changes, and that a new state programme against domestic violence is being prepared with UN Women support (to 2030). The article reports Rustam saying 110 resource/information-consultative centres, the 1313 hotline, 38 legal-aid bureaus under the Ministry of Justice, a reproductive-health centre and psychological shelters under the Ministry of Health currently operate. The article quotes “Freedom for Eurasia” researcher Svetlana Dzardanova (Светлана Дзарданова) saying women in Central Asia feel unsafe in streets, public transport, universities and workplaces. The article reports gender specialist Larisa Aleksandrova (Лариса Александрова), who participated in a UNDP-supported working group in 2020, saying that a draft new Criminal Code contains an Article 153 “Violence in the Family,” that the group was later led by presidential adviser Zarif Alizoda (Зариф Ализода) in 2023, and that the draft was returned by ministries with remarks. The article quotes the draft’s text: paragraph 1 — systematic beatings or other violent acts causing medium harm are punishable by up to 1 year’s corrective labour, fines up to 180 calculation indices, restriction of liberty or imprisonment up to 1 year; paragraph 2 — aggravating circumstances (two or more family members, in connection with a protective order, pregnant women, minors, helpless persons, in presence of a minor, on grounds of religious hatred) carry up to 3 years; paragraph 3 — grievous harm or particular cruelty: 3–6 years; paragraph 4 — death by negligence: 4–7 years; paragraph 5 — death of two or more persons: 7–10 years. The article reports that under current law domestic violence remains an administrative offence (fines up to $36, max 15 days detention) and cites a Belgian NGO “International Partnership for Human Rights” («Международное партнёрство по правам человека») survey that most Tajik victims distrust police and that in some areas 1 district inspector serves 12,000–15,000 people. The article reports regional statistics: Kyrgyzstan 13,104 DV reports in 2023 (32% increase); Kazakhstan at least 80 women killed annually by partner violence (General Prosecutor’s Office); Uzbekistan UNICEF study — 33% of girls 15–19 think a husband may beat his wife; Turkmenistan 2022 report covering nearly 3,000 women; Tajikistan half of women have experienced violence (International Partnership for Human Rights study). The article reports Aytbek Amangeldy (Айтбек Амангельды), brother of Saltanat Nukenova (Салтанат Нукенова), whose killer Kuandyk Bishimbaev (Куандык Бишимбаев) was sentenced to 24 years in June 2024, attended the conference as an activist. Sources cited: Tajik Committee on Women’s and Family Affairs, UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, Freedom for Eurasia, International Partnership for Human Rights, Kyrgyz MVD, Kazakh General Prosecutor’s Office, Kloop (femicide research).