The USAID Stop Gender-Based Violence Project, in collaboration with UNDP Tajikistan, supported eleven judges from Tajikistan’s Supreme Court in benefiting from intensive training sessions designed to align their approach to handling cases involving gender-based violence (GBV) with international best practices. This training was aimed at supporting Tajikistan’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of justice sector actors to deliver gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and survivor-oriented services.

During the training with the Supreme Court judges, Morgane Landel, an international expert provided up-to-date international best practices on judicial responses to GBV. 

Nigora Kholova, another neurology expert, explained how traumatic experiences leave a long-term impact on the human brain and affect the behavior of GBV survivors. 

This was the first time the participating judges had received training on how trauma from GBV can impact the ability of a survivor to tell her/his story.

Moreover, during the training, an advocate who specializes in providing access to justice for GBV survivors shared the challenges survivors face in getting support from law enforcement and courts. Shamigul Aminova, an adult education expert, shared techniques with the judges for effectively training their peers.

By building the capacity of the justice sector, particularly the judiciary, the activity seeks to ensure that women who come forward with complaints of GBV, especially domestic violence, receive the necessary and effective support.