DUSHANBE, July 15, 2015, Asia-Plus — The Committee for Women and Family Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan on July 14 hosted a seminar to discuss the female suicide problems.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Marhabo Jabbori, noted that suicide among Tajik women has become a matter of increasing concern in recent years.
She reportedly ordered relevant officials to take adequate measures to counter that phenomenon.
Ms. Jabbori noted that unsolved social problems were behind of each of suicide cases. “We have to establish the causes of suicides,” the deputy prime minister said.
The seminar participants noted that although the female suicide rates in Tajikistan show the downward trend, the situation remains serious.
According to UNICEF’s TransMonEE data (2012), the national suicide rate in Tajikistan among young persons (ages 15-19) increased 63% from 2.8 to 4.5 (per 100,000) between 2008 and 2010. During this period, female suicide rates reportedly increased 176%, from 1.9 to 5.2 (per 100,000), while males experienced only a 6% increase, from 3.6 to 3.9 (per 100,000). From 2008 to 2010, according to these TransMonEE data, a shift in the male-to-female ratio also occurred, with more females than males committing suicide. The reported male-to-female ratio was 1.9:1 in 2008, 1:1.2 in 2009 and 1:1.3 in 2010.
Experts say the high rate of suicide among women in Tajikistan is related in most cases to domestic violence perpetrated by men. In many cases, domestic violence is suspected but women do not want to admit they have been abused by their husbands or relatives because of Tajik society”s taboo on domestic violence.
