Representatives of the United Nations and partners of Tajikistan’s government paid a visit to Public Organization Korvoni Umed’s shelter and vocational training centre designated for domestic violence survivors on 13 November in Dushanbe. The visitors met with girls and women in the shelter and training centre and familiarized themselves with their living and working conditions. The visitors were Ms Cristina Gheorghe Tranca, the UN Resident Coordinator ad interim/IOM Chief of Mission, Ms Nurullozoda Firuza, the First Deputy Chair of Tajikistan’s Committee of Women and Family Affairs, and Ravshan Tohirov, the Officer-in-Charge of UNFPA Tajikistan.
 
The Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative supported Korvoni Umed with the technical equipment, home appliances, furniture and capacity-building training courses for a total cost of $52,000. Safe and comfortable living conditions created in the shelters and the training centre will provide the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence with a secure place to stay, receive services, and learn new skills.

The Spotlight Initiative assistance also included training courses for Korvoni Umed’s key staff in stress management practices and standard operating procedures. The training courses helped the staff to improve management skills, reduce burnout, and provide quality counseling and services to survivors of gender-based violence.

Korvoni Umed has been serving women’s and children’s needs in Tajikistan since 2009. It served 7000 women through counseling, legal and medical support, and capacity-building activities. Korvoni Umed has vast experience in supporting women and children in shelters, which provide temporary refuge to women and children for 3-6 months. While in the shelters, the women receive professional social, psychological, legal, and medical services as well as assistance in rehabilitation and reintegration into social life.  With the support of Dushanbe’s local administration, Korvoni Umed established a women’s vocational training centre. The Centre provides training courses on sewing, handicrafts, and bakery skills for women from various economic backgrounds, including survivors of domestic violence.