As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence global campaign, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan has launched a nationwide awareness-raising drive in five target regions with a special focus on remote areas.

According to the OSCE Office, the campaign, from November 25 to December 10 2016, targets 42 settlements and the events include mobile theatre performances, television and radio programs, interactive information sessions as well as thematic meetings.

The first activity within the campaign, an interactive information session, was held on November 24 at the Pedagogical College in Panjakent, Sughd province, 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 Center and local authorities, awareness-raising materials containing information on available assistance services in the country were distributed.

Mahbouba 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 programs in 25 settlements across Tajikistan.