Crimes against children in Tajikistan rise by 419 cases in one year

In Tursunzoda, a 15-year-old boy named Khusrav was tied to the back of a car by his own father. The intent was to punish him; the result was death. This incident, occurring in July 2025, is one of over 1,400 registered crimes against minors in Tajikistan for the year. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, this represents an increase of 419 cases compared to the previous year. The figures encompass a spectrum of violence ranging from physical assault and sexual abuse to homicide. The vulnerability of Tajikistan's youth is a demographic reality: children make up 40% of the population. However, the gap between legislative intent and the reality in rural and urban households remains wide. In June 2025, Madina Halimova survived an attempt to drown herself and her four children in a river; her children did not survive.