Gulrukhsor - Khujand Women's Center

On Friday, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the only crisis center for women in the Khujand area. It was started in 1996 by a group of business women and provides mainly a hotline service for women suffering from domestic violence plus also a womens' shelter. The office/shelter was located in an apartment complex. The office isn't big with the womens' shelter (6 beds) connected to it. What was so fantastic about the center was the peaceful, homey and secure atmosphere created for guests at the center. Workers walked around in slippers and it is a perfect place for women to go to. I have never been to any womens' centers back home but I am sure this is the exact environment it should have. They have social workers, lawyers, psychologists and doctors available through the hotline. Their main goal is to help women of domestic violence deal with the psychological trauma, understand their rights as women and to look at ways to prevent or minimize domestic violence in the family.

It must be understood that this type of service is very unusual for a place like Tajikistan and here are the reasons why:

• Rumored statistic say over 90% of women experience domestic violence but according to the brochure from this crisis center, it is over 50% who suffer from domestic violence
• This is a very male dominanted society where women are expected to be subservient so control and power belong naturally to the males in all decision areas (money, family etc.)
• It is also a very family/clan based society which usually means family problems are left to be solved by the family and not outsiders

I was quite shocked to hear that the center currently serves more than 1500 clients per year. It shows that despite the obstacles stacked in front of them, the center has gained respect from the community to continue their work in the city.

Just to really hit home the problem of domestic violence facing Tajikistan...listen to this...it is absolutely absurd and disgusts the heck out of me. I have heard that Tajik men need to show their 'manliness' to one another by boasting about how they beat their wives. Majority of men feel they need to make it known to their wives who is in control by refraining from any caring or loving gestures towards their wives. Instead many of them show their affections and romantic side to their girlfriends. Yes most married men here have girlfriends. Nope this is not a joke...