Development and introduction of training courses on preventing domestic violence focus of OSCE organized seminar in Turkmenistan

On 25 and 26 November 2021, the OSCE Center in Ashgabat organized an online seminar on developing and introducing training courses focused on preventing and responding to domestic violence for the institutions and academies of the law enforcement bodies of Turkmenistan.
Representatives from the Mejlis (lower chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (Parliament) of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Justice, Prosecutor General's Office, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Supreme Court, Ombudsperson's Office, Bar Association, Institute of State, Law and Democracy, Women’s Union and Youth Organizations of Turkmenistan attended the seminar.
Three international experts from Ukraine, Bulgaria and Kyrgyzstan facilitated the seminar and shared experiences from their respective countries. The event addressed legislative mechanisms that protect and safeguard women's rights, international standards in the criminalization of domestic violence and best practises in preventing and handling cases of domestic violence in real life.
"Domestic violence has a devastating impact on survivors and victims. Violence against women in particular disempowers them from participating in society. It affects children who grow up in a violent family and causes a ripple effect throughout society. The economic and social costs to the individual, the family and society are enormous," said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
“This is why the OSCE sees preventing and combating violence against women and girls as a security issue. Moreover, we know that the current global pandemic has resulted in a spike in overall violence and domestic violence in the OSCE region,” he added.
This event was part of the Center's continued assistance to the government of Turkmenistan in fulfilling its gender equality commitments.