New Shelter for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Opens in Ferghana

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 31 October 2025, a new shelter for survivors of gender-based violence opened in Ferghana. The facility marks an important step in strengthening the system for protecting women and girls in one of Uzbekistan’s most densely populated regions, where such cases remain widespread.

The shelter was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the NGO “Mehrjon,” with the involvement of the Office of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), the Ministry of Justice, local authorities, and with financial support from the Government of Finland. It will provide a safe space for women and their children, offering comprehensive social, legal, and psychological services, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration programs aimed at restoring confidence and supporting survivors’ social adaptation.

UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Akiko Fujii emphasized the importance of collective efforts to protect women’s rights. She noted that around 40,000 cases of gender-based violence are registered in the country each year, with the vast majority of victims being women. The establishment of the Ferghana shelter, she said, symbolizes the partnership and solidarity between the government, civil society, and international organizations.

The Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights, Feruza Eshmatova, stressed that gender-based violence remains one of the most pressing human rights challenges in Uzbekistan. It causes severe physical and psychological harm, undermines family well-being, and restricts women’s participation in the country’s economic, political, and social life. Addressing this issue, she said, requires joint action from the state, civil society, and international partners to ensure that every woman and girl can live free from fear and violence.

The construction of the shelter reflects UNDP’s commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms for responding to gender-based violence and expands the capacity of “Mehrjon” NGO to provide safe accommodation and support for survivors in the region. The initiative is being implemented under the UNDP project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan,” funded by the Government of Finland.