Tajikistan’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Umed Bobozoda, has called for urgent measures to protect children's rights in the wake of a tragic incident in Farkhor district of Khatlon province, where a mother allegedly threw herself and her four children into the Surkhob River. The event occurred during the night of June 29–30.
In a public statement released on his official website, Bobozoda described the death of four young children as an “alarming event” and expressed deep concern over violence against minors. He emphasized that the tragedy underscores the urgent need to safeguard the rights and well-being of children across the country.
The Ombudsman’s statement highlighted a troubling pattern: in many cases, children's rights are violated by their own parents or close family members. “Analysis of child rights violations shows that in most instances, the perpetrators are parents, legal guardians, or individuals whom the child loves and trusts,” said Bobozoda.
To prevent such tragedies, he urged Tajik society—including parents, communities, and government institutions—to create a “protective environment for children” and to intensify awareness-raising efforts around children's rights, education, care, and supervision.
The case that sparked the statement involved the 27-year-old Madina Halimova, a resident of Safarov village in Khatlon’s Farkhor district. In a shocking act of violence, she threw her four young children into the Surkhob River before attempting to take her own life. Halimova survived, but all four children — the five-year-old Latofat, the tree-year-old Zainab, the two-year-old Yosamin, and the two-month-old Muhammad — perished.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and it has reignited public debate over mental health, family welfare, and child protection systems in Tajikistan.
