Round table charts path for preventing femicide

On 25 June 2026, representatives from the judiciary, law enforcement, civil society and international organizations gathered at the National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) in Tashkent for a round table to discuss current approaches to preventing violence against women and strengthening the protection of women’s rights.

The round table, titled “Legal Mechanisms for the Prevention of Femicide: From International Standards to National Practice” was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co-operation with the  NCHR. 

Participants discussed international and national experiences in preventing femicide and other forms of violence against women and girls, ways to improve legislation and parliamentary oversight, data collection and analysis, victims’ access to justice, and the role of civil society and international co-operation in strengthening mechanisms for the protection of women’s rights.

“This round table has highlighted what still needs to be done, globally, regionally and in Uzbekistan, but also the significant accomplishments Uzbekistan has made in advancing laws and policies to end gender-based violence, femicide in particular,” said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, Head of Office of the PCUz. “This is an occasion to move forward and build on such momentum."

Speakers at the event included Dilnoza Muratova, NHRC Deputy Director; Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues; Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Ceren Güven Güres , Head of the UN Women Central Asia Co-ordination Office and Representative of the UN Women Country Office in Kazakhstan; and Makhfirat Ochilova, a Supreme Court judge.

The discussions resulted in a set of recommendations aimed at improving legislation, strengthening data collection systems, enhancing inter-agency co-operation and increasing the effectiveness of measures to prevent gender-based violence.