1. Law
1.1. Many women believe that their rights cannot be defended.
1.2. Family quarrels almost never get punished by the law.
1.3. Cultural reasons
1.3.1. The victims of violence apply very rarely to the legal system
1.4. Khalton (a region in Tajikistan) has just one police officer per 10,000 people, which limits the polices' ability to have an impact on such situations.
1.5. In January 2013, Tajikistan passed its first law to combat domestic violence.
1.5.1. The law provides free medical and legal assistance to domestic violence victims.
1.5.1.1. Those convicted of domestic abuse will be fined and sentenced to 5-15 days in jail.
1.5.1.1.1. The law also protects men and children.
2. Culture
2.1. Women don't learn to believe in themselves.
2.1.1. Don't speak up to their husbands and in-laws, and are defenseless
2.1.1.1. Parents of the victims can't help them (older parents, don't have enough money to provide further for the daughter)
2.2. Because of traditional attitudes on gender and male dominance, many men in Tajikistan do not feel that beating their wife is physical violence.
2.2.1. According to Women and Men in the Republic of Tajikistan, most women aged 15-49 years believe that a husband has the right to beat a wife.
2.3. Side note: Men usually leave Tajikistan to find jobs, and leave their wives at home
2.3.1. They usually find a new family and divorce their old wives
2.3.1.1. Women have to do hard work that men used to do.
2.3.1.1.1. Culturally it is almost impossible for these women to remarry
3. Domestic violence
3.1. Most common are sexual violence and psychological curelty.
3.1.1. Usually committed by husbands, in-laws and others.
3.1.1.1. The most merciless abusers are often the women that were abused themselves (mother in-law)
3.2. NGOs exists, where victims of violence can apply for help.
3.3. Experts say that two thirds of women are exposed to domestic violence in Tajikistan.
3.3.1. But that many don't want to admit that they have been abused.
3.4. Evidence suggests that cruelty against women became worse after the Civil War
3.4.1. Poverty stresses people, which can turn into violence against others.
3.5. Women usually meeting their husbands for the first time shortly before the marriage, unaware of what they are like is also a cause of domestic violence.
4. Suicide
4.1. Women believe that suicide is the only way out of their family situation.
4.1.1. More recent cases show that women not only kill themselves, but also their children.
4.2. Women usually choose suicide, because leaving is not an option.
4.2.1. They are too dependent on their husbands to leave, with nowhere to go and nothing to eat.
4.2.1.1. With being married at a very young age, the women usually don't get any education. They are responsible for raising children and taking care of the house.
4.3. Self-immolation is very common (suicide by burning)
4.3.1. The women that survive don't usually want to admit that they tried to kill themselves, and usually seem like they wanted to survive the whole time.
4.4. At least 50 percent of the known cases of attempted suicide were related to domestic violence and violence against women.
4.4.1. Single mothers or women who have separated from their husbands are a high-risk group for suicide.
4.4.1.1. There are many suicide attempts related to quarrels with neighbors or sometimes even after harsh criticism from parents or other relatives.