OSCE PCUz co-organizes roundtable on trauma-informed justice approach to violence against women and children

On 28-29 November 2024, the expert roundtable titled “Gender-Sensitive, Child-Friendly, and Trauma-Informed Justice: Best Practices, Challenges, and Needs” was held in Tashkent. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, USAID and the East-West Management Institute.

The discussions on gender equality in the administration of justice focused on a broad range of issues related to the protection of women, children and minors, particularly in the context of domestic violence, sexual abuse and exploitation.

Throughout the discussions, there was a strong emphasis on the need for improved effectiveness of current protection mechanisms for victims, co-ordination among justice institutions and a more gender-sensitive approach in handling cases involving violence, especially against women and children.

The importance of comprehensive legal and social support systems was also underscored as a means to ensure that victims' rights are protected and that perpetrators are held accountable.

“Strengthening law-enforcement and judicial responses to violence against women, raising awareness about its multiple and invisible forms and empowering victims are crucial elements of any effective strategy to prevent such violence,” said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, the Head of the PCUz, in his opening address to the participants of the roundtable.