S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSALS FROM DUSHANBE

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