A youth legal forum focused on gender equality and rights protection was held at the Serena Dushanbe Hotel as part of the WEMJUST project, “Empowering Women through the Justice System in Tajikistan.” The event was aligned with the international “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.
Titled “Young Lawyers for Gender Equality – Building a World Without Violence Together,” the forum brought together experienced legal professionals and law students. It was organized by the NGO “Huqouq va Behboudi” (“Law and Prosperity”) with financial support from the European Union.
Participants addressed pressing issues of discrimination, violence, and stereotypes that affect women both in society and within the legal profession itself. A central focus was the growing role of youth in promoting gender equality and defending women's rights.
The role of youth in ending violence
One of the highlights of the event was a presentation by law student Shukrona Qudratullozoda from Tajik National University. In her talk titled “The Role of Youth in Preventing Gender-Based Violence,” she emphasized the need for young professionals to be actively involved.
She outlined several key actions for the younger generation:
· conducting awareness campaigns and training sessions;
· providing emotional and psychological support to survivors;
· engaging with public institutions and civil society to influence policy;
· developing educational initiatives to foster respect for human rights.
A separate session addressed the growing issue of cyberviolence. Advocate Muhtasham Karimzoda from the “Kafolat” legal association presented a report on increasing online threats targeting women and girls. He highlighted incidents of stalking, extortion, and unauthorized sharing of private content. The forum cited the notorious Instagram page “Hodisa.tv” as an example, where videos of women were posted without consent.
In closing remarks, project coordinator Najiba Shirinbekova of “Huqouq va Behboudi” stressed the need for legal professionals to stay ahead of rapidly evolving realities. “Today’s lawyers must not only understand the law well, but also continuously update their skills to respond to the world’s changing challenges,” she said.
