UN building in Geneva. The Women’s Rights Committee presented its recommendations to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan Women
On Monday, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women published its findings on the situation in a number of countries, including Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Experts reviewed state reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and presented their recommendations.
Tajikistan
The Committee noted with concern that the Constitution of Tajikistan still prohibits the employment of women in “underground work and in hazardous conditions” and that, according to the country’s labor code, 150 professions are still inaccessible to women. Experts emphasized that legal provisions that overprotect women are rooted in gender stereotypes.
They recommended that the Tajik authorities bring the labor code into line with the new law on equality and non-discrimination and immediately lift the categorical ban on 150 professions for women. Human rights activists also suggested that Tajikistan review existing restrictions taking into account technological developments and adopt appropriate guarantees of protection against hazardous working conditions for both women and men.
The Committee expressed concern that the continued detention and deportation of men from Afghanistan has also forced many women to return to Afghanistan because they are unable to support their children in Tajikistan. Experts stressed that forcing women to return to a country where the de facto authorities have developed a “system of gender persecution” could lead to a violation of their rights under the Convention.
The Committee called on Tajikistan to ensure the safety and protection of refugee women, especially Afghan women, and to take measures to avoid family separation.
Turkmenistan
Committee experts emphasized that Turkmenistan does not have legislation regarding gender-based violence, as well as a comprehensive preventive strategy. They called on the authorities to pass laws without further delay to specifically define and criminalize all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence. They also recommended that Turkmenistan develop a strategy to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence and provide free legal and medical assistance to victims.
Experts said women and girls face pressure to them to conform to gender stereotypes in terms of clothing and appearance. They also expressed concern about restrictions on women’s rights to travel alone and drive and called on authorities to repeal these rules.
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The Committee noted that women make up only 24.8 percent of Mejlis deputies ( lower house) and 27 percent of deputies of the Khalk Maslakhaty (upper house) of parliament. There is only one woman in Turkmenistan’s cabinet, and women remain underrepresented in municipal councils and in leadership positions in political parties.
Experts recommended that Turkmenistan amend its electoral legislation by establishing quotas for women candidates on the electoral lists of political parties in order to achieve gender parity by 2030, as well as provide financial incentives to political parties to finance election campaigns and train women candidates.