KHUJAND, February 6, 2010, Asia-Plus — The shelter for victims of domestic violence in Khujand has moved to a new building, which has better conditions for living, Asia-Plus has learned from Nisora Bustonova, a public relations officer at the Crisis Center, Gulrukhsor.
According to her, that has become possible due to cooperation between the Center and the National Association of Businesswoman of Tajikistan and financial support from the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the Government of Finland.
The Sughd administration has also been very supportive, providing the building to the Center for 12 years free of charge, Ms Bustonova said.
We will recall that the shelter, providing refuge for victims of domestic violence, trafficking and other forms of abuse, was opened by the OSCE Field Office in Khujand on July 1, 2005. The shelter is part of a three-year project financed by the U.S. State Department through the OSCE and implemented by the Crisis Center, Gulrukhsor.
According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, with funding from the United States (2005-08) and Finland (2008-11), the Office is supporting the shelter for victims of domestic violence in Khujand. In 2008, the shelter provided refuge to 53 women and psychological and legal support to some 1,738. In the first quarter of 2009 alone, 22 people were sheltered and 162 calls were received via the hotline services.
“125 women, 15 teenagers and 106 children have received refuge in the shelter since it was opened,” Bustonov said, noting that an official opening of the new building of the shelter will take place on February 9.
