10th January 2024

Information on Tajikistan for consideration by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women – 87th session, December 2023

We respectfully submit this report for consideration during the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (‘the Committee’) review of Tajikistan at its 87th Session (29 January – 16 February 2024). We are writing to express our concerns with regard to laws related to rape and other forms of sexual violence, procedures and practices which effectively deny access to justice for survivors of sexual violence in violation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (‘the Convention’).

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Key recommendations

The legal provisions and practices detailed in our submission highlight the failure of the State of Tajikistan to comply with its duties to provide equal protection under the law to survivors of sexual violence (Article 2(c) of the Convention) and the failure of law enforcement to protect women from sexual violence (Article 2(c) and (e)). We submit that the root cause of the failures of the State is its non-compliance with the obligation to end discrimination against women in law and practice and address stereotypical and gender-discriminatory attitudes towards women and girls, contrary to Articles 2(f) and 5(a) of the Convention and the obligation to combat violence against women and provide access to justice to survivors, as provided for in General Recommendations 19, 33 and 35 of the Committee.

In February 2024, the Committee published its recommendations, which were in line with a number of recommendations we made in our joint submission. Explore our full statement on the recommendations.

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Statement by Equality Now (Observer Status No. 281) on Agenda Item 5 of the 87th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR intervention on the activity report of the Special Rapporteur on refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants in Africa

Equality Now’s shadow report calls for urgent reform of discriminatory nationality laws across Africa that deny women equal rights to confer citizenship to their children and spouses. These laws heighten the risk of statelessness, poverty, family separation, and violence, undermining the fundamental right to nationality.

Grounded in regional advocacy and human rights standards, the report urges African Union Member States to enshrine gender equality in nationality laws, centre affected communities in reform processes, and sign and ratify the AU Nationality Protocol without delay.

Mexico – CEDAW submission on sexual violence, access to justice, and gender budget cuts

Civil society submission to CEDAW highlights budget cuts, weak justice systems, and gaps in legal frameworks affecting survivors of sexual violence in Mexico.

Tajikistan – Joint submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review 53rd Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council

UPR submission on Tajikistan addressing violence against women and girls, child and forced marriage, disability inclusion, legal reform, and survivor-centred protections.

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