VZCZCXRO7710
PP RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0207/01 0501206
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 191206Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1282
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0460
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2770

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DUSHANBE 000207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/GWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ECON TI KWMN PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSALS FROM DUSHANBE 
 
REF: A) STATE 12531 
 
DUSHANBE 00000207  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Post nominates four projects, in order of 
priority, to be considered for funding under the Women's Issues 
Small Grant Initiative.  From highest to lowest priority are the 
following projects: Tradecraft Training for Girls (NGO New 
Generation); Guaranteeing Women's Land Rights (NGO Bonu); 
Women's Property Rights and Access to Justice (League of Women 
Lawyers); and Women's Issues Television Series (TV Station 
Jahonoro).  A brief summary of each project follows below.  Full 
proposals and detailed budgets are available upon request. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) TRADECRAFT TRAINING FOR GIRLS - NGO NEW GENERATION: NGO 
New Generation was founded in 2001 and serves the people of the 
Sughd Province in northern Tajikistan.  NGO New Generation 
focuses on educational and vocational training programs that are 
predominantly geared toward women and girls. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) One of the biggest challenges faced by young women in 
Tajikistan is the lack of access to formal education, including 
vocational training, because less value is placed on women's 
education.  Tajik girls are often pulled out of school after the 
ninth grade because many families believe that there is no point 
in educating girls any further.  The drop-out rate for rural 
girls is twice that of rural boys, and in the cities three times 
as many girls drop out of school.  With the fast-growing trend 
of men leaving Tajikistan as labor migrants-at any given time, 
more than one million of Tajikistan's 6.5 million citizens must 
work abroad because of a lack of employment opportunities in 
Tajikistan-even married women are often left alone in Tajikistan 
for years with no means of support if the remittances dry up. 
But a chance at an educational and vocational program can change 
the situation of Tajik women for the better.  Education is one 
of the most important factors helping girls and women survive 
and improve their lives.  It helps women maintain more control 
over their lives and gives them the skills required to 
contribute to society and their families. Education gives women 
an opportunity to make independent decisions and improve the 
life of their families; therefore, NGO New Generation proposes 
the expansion of an already-successful project which offers 
comprehensive vocational training on such topics as computer 
literacy, sewing, and baking, as well as training on such issues 
as business development, women's rights, conflict management and 
tolerance, family planning, hygiene, and sanitation to young 
women in northern Tajikistan who are unable to attend school. 
The program also works to change the pessimistic attitude about 
girls' education held by teachers and parents alike.  NGO New 
Generation's program has already changed the lives of more than 
300 girls with little other recourse to education or vocational 
training, and more than 1,000 girls in the region have since 
approached the NGO with the desire to participate in the program. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) NGO New Generation proposes a program that will involve 
conducting training courses for girls; expanding the current 
curriculum, which is predominantly vocational, to include 
classes in Russian, English, and Arabic; conducting seminars 
with girls' parents to alter their traditional belief that 
girls' education is not necessary; subsidizing school fees to 
encourage girls from poor families to return to school; 
organizing educational training for the mothers of the 
participants; working with teachers to eliminate the gender 
discrimination that causes so many girls to give up on getting a 
formal education; and providing social support to women and 
girls through collaboration with community councils.  The total 
requested amount is $93,270. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) GUARANTEEING WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS -- NGO BONU: NGO Bonu 
was founded in 2000 and serves the people of the Sughd Province 
of northern Tajikistan.  Its mission is to improve the status of 
Tajik women from all walks of life through education and 
training programs, environmental protection, promotion of the 
rights of mothers and children, and through humanitarian 
assistance. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) The majority of the population of Sughd Province is 
completely reliant upon agriculture and livestock production for 
food and income, yet far too few people have access to resources 
such as land, capital, and agriculture inputs.  Lack of access 
to resources mainly affects the wives of absentee migrant 
laborers and the disabled.  In many cases, these women are 
working on newly established dehkan (collective) farms and they 
 
DUSHANBE 00000207  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
receive miserable salaries for the hard work they do. 
Decentralization of land ownership is one of the main components 
of the process of reforms in the agricultural sector.  Complex 
land registration procedures, coupled with widespread ignorance 
about land rights, have increased the inequality, especially for 
female-headed households. 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) NGO Bonu proposes a plan that is four-fold and involves a 
number of activities geared toward improving the production and 
sustainability of female-led dehkan farms, increasing women's 
empowerment, and ensuring food security:  Six female-led dehkan 
farms will be established, involving a total of 60 women; 
training on land rights will be provided; women's 
entrepreneurship, particularly in the area of grain and 
vegetable production, will be promoted; and the information and 
training offered by NGO Bonu will be taught to women from other 
villages by the 60 participants.  The intended outcome of this 
project is that six dehkan farms will be established; the 
vegetable production and household income of 60 female farmers 
will increase by at least 30%; 60 women will learn about 
property rights, land reform, agricultural diversification, 
entrepreneurship, and new agricultural techniques; and, through 
cooperation with and outreach to other villages in Sughd, there 
will be a significant multiplier effect as the 60 original 
participants share what they learned with other female dehkan 
farmers in the region.  The farmers will collaborate with local 
agricultural specialists, community-based organizations, and 
other dehkan farm associations and stakeholders in the district 
in order to gradually improve their financial resources and 
ensure eventual independence.  The total requested amount is 
$98,111. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) WOMEN'S PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE -- LEAGUE 
OF WOMEN LAWYERS: The League of Women Lawyers of Tajikistan was 
established as an NGO in 1999.  The basic aim of the League is 
establishing an independent, democratic state by way of 
coordination and implementation of programs and projects 
directed towards social development, equal access to 
opportunities for men and women alike, reduction of violence, 
and provision of legal assistance to vulnerable people and 
at-risk groups in the Republic of Tajikistan. 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) Gender-based violence is a global problem that has no 
borders and is not unique to any one social group or economic 
stratum, and its consequences concern the whole of society. 
Unfortunately, the fight against violence against women and the 
development of gender equality in Tajikistan are both recent 
concepts in Tajikistan.  Despite the government's efforts and 
adoption of a number of laws pertaining to gender equality, 
there is still a lack of enforcement.  In addition, public 
awareness pertaining to human rights protection is very low, and 
there is no guarantee of equal access to justice for women 
because of long-held traditional gender stereotypes and 
patriarchal views.  In rural areas, girls have no opportunity to 
finish secondary school; because of widespread illegal 
polygamous marriage customs, young girls enter into marriages 
without formal registration.  Therefore they do not possess any 
housing, property, or inheritance rights. 
 
 
 
¶10. (U) The League proposes a project with the objective of 
recognition of gender-based violence as a social problem and a 
violation of human rights.  The project will support the 
activities of law enforcement, government bodies, and NGOs 
involved in the drafting of legislation aimed at the prevention 
of gender-based and domestic violence.  The main activities of 
the project are: Encouraging a more effective response from 
judicial and law enforcement bodies in gender-based violence 
cases through informational seminars conducted by the heads of 
the local councils, local government authorities, and religious 
leaders; staging a public-awareness campaign, using brochures, 
TV shows, and radio programs, to break down stereotypes and to 
promote the idea of equal access to justice for all; and 
providing assistance to the victims of gender-based violence 
through the establishment of five legal centers in rural parts 
of Tajikistan.  In order to ensure access to justice and fair 
trails, the League will monitor cases on women's property and 
land rights.  The expected results are that 450 officials 
dealing with prevention of gender-based violence (judges, law 
enforcement officers, local community activists, religious 
leaders) will increase their legal knowledge and understanding 
of women's rights;  public defenders from various legal centers 
will gain skills and experience on the protection of women's 
 
DUSHANBE 00000207  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
rights and the fight against gender-based violence; over 2000 
women will receive legal advice and assistance during pre-trial 
and trial stages; and the public awareness campaign with attract 
much-needed attention to the legal and human-rights problems 
faced by women in Tajikistan.  The total cost of the project is 
$100,339.  The League of Women Lawyers will provide $12,262 in 
cost-sharing and requests $88,077. 
 
 
 
¶11. (U) WOMEN'S ISSUES TELEVISION SERIES -- TV STATION JAHONORO: 
Private TV station "Jahonoro" was established in 1998 with the 
aim of providing true and timely information to the population 
of the Sughd Province of Tajikistan.  Today it is one of the 
leading independent TV stations of Sughd Province and the only 
one that has consistently attempted to cover developments in all 
areas, including political issues, in Tajikistan.  Their mission 
is to provide true and independent information to the population 
as an alternative to state-controlled TV channels and to serve 
as a public advocate for pressing issues.  Many independent TV 
and radio stations in Tajikistan face pressure from state 
structures, and licensing of new independent TV stations is 
getting more difficult year by year.  The existing stations have 
difficulty surviving because of limited sources of funding. 
Jahonoro gets its revenues from advertisements, paid video 
services, and foreign grants.  The company cooperates with 
almost all of the international organizations operating in 
Tajikistan, such as OSCE, IFES, NDI, and OSI, with the purpose 
of implementing projects and programming devoted to civic 
education the increase of awareness of human rights. 
 
 
 
¶12. (U) Gender discrimination is a fact in Tajikistan. 
According to a recent Amnesty International report, almost half 
of the women in Tajikistan face abuse.  There were some efforts 
undertaken to address gender discrimination in the government 
level; however, the legal base is still weak and the situation 
is deteriorating further due to limited economic opportunities 
for women and the population at large.  There is no law that 
specifically addresses domestic violence.  Due to economic, 
social, cultural, and political factors women are constantly 
under pressure and have limited options in life.  Domestic 
violence, employment-based discrimination, forced marriages, 
unequal access to land and family resources, labor migration, 
and many other tendencies are becoming a reality for a large 
number of women in Tajikistan.  This is one of the reasons why 
the number of suicides is growing every year, especially in the 
northern Sughd province.  According to information from the 
Tajik Internal Affairs Administration, there have been 173 
suicides and 87 attempts registered officially in Sughd. 
Suicide is a form of protest against domestic violence and 
abuse, as most of the victims do not see any other option.  A 
combination of factors that women find themselves in, such as no 
education or economic opportunities, too many children in the 
family, and social pressure, leave no other means to cope with 
violence and abuse in the family.  Divorce is not an option 
because of the stigma attached to it.  In addition, religious 
circles in the community condemn divorce and tell women to be 
obedient wives and never leave the marriage.  Media can play a 
vital role in changing stereotypes against women in society by 
showing how other women cope with these issues, by presenting 
role models for young girls, by advocating for change in 
legislation, and by providing a venue to expose and discuss the 
problems of gender-based violence and discrimination.  Media can 
help women raise their awareness of their rights, as well as 
their self-esteem, and can provide information on economic and 
educational opportunities for growth and development. 
 
 
 
¶13. (U) Through a series of television programs, TV Jahonoro 
will provide a forum for women to share their real stories and 
talk about their successes.  It will also be a venue for debate 
by legal experts, psychologists, and community leaders.  The TV 
programs will talk about issues such as women's legal rights and 
entitlements, the role of religion in ensuring equality in 
marriage and society, women's participation in the political 
sphere, economic opportunities for women, women and labor 
migration, and many other vital issues for society today in 
Tajikistan.  The monthly talk-shows will feature real local 
heroes- successful Tajik women leaders, and their real 
stories-to foster public debate and to provide further 
informational resources that will help others cope with their 
individual situations.  TV Jahonoro will present 12 analytical 
TV programs in the Tajik language in a talk-show format 
dedicated to the unique social, economic, political, and 
cultural problems faced by Tajik women, as well as possible 
solutions for those problems.  Each program will be 35 to 40 
minutes long and will feature women leaders from major cities of 
 
DUSHANBE 00000207  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
Sughd Province, including Khujand, Gafurov, Kayrakkum, 
Chkalovsk, Jabbor Rasulov, Spitamen, and other adjoining 
territories.  The selected women have achieved great success in 
life and are included in a database of 600 successful women of 
the Ferghana Valley.  Their stories reveal how successful women 
can be, both economically and socially, and how they managed to 
create opportunities, such as jobs, for other women.  The 
programs will be broadcast during prime time viewing hours and 
are expected to reach up to 800,000 people.  The topics include: 
Ownership Rights of Women: Law and Traditions; Women's Rights 
and Islam; Marriage Contract: Rescue or Illusion?; Women-Headed 
Households; Labor Migration and Women; Civil War and Gender 
Imbalance in Society; Women and Elections; Divorce Through Text 
Messaging and by Phone; Do Women Have a Right to Own Land?; 
Unemployment and Women; Impact of the Economic Crisis on Women; 
and Women Leaders and Successful Entrepreneurs.  To supplement 
the program, 12 analytical articles on the issue of gender 
inequality will be published in conjunction with the TV shows. 
The total requested amount is $68,831. 
GROSS