DUSHANBE, March 3, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A roundtable meeting to discuss introduction of elements of family court in Tajikistan is being held in Dushanbe today.

Organized by the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan), the meeting is expected to bring together representatives from the country’s judicial system, civil society, barristers community, international organizations dealing court reforms, protection of women and children’s rights and gender problems as well as prosecutors and researchers to exchange views and offer recommendations on development of this new sub-institution of the country’s judicial system.

In accordance with the national court and legal reforms program amendments were made to the country’s law on courts in January 2010 and penal of judges for family and administrative will be set up at courts in Tajikistan.

According to OSI/AF-Tajikistan, the main objective of the meeting is in discussing and analyzing formation and development of penal of judges for family cases in the country.  During preparations for the meeting, local independent experts have analyzed international practice and Tajikistan’s legislation regarding this subject and the survey will be presented at the meeting, the source said.

A family court is a court convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law, such as custody of children.  In common-law jurisdictions "family courts" are statutory creations primarily dealing with equitable matters devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction, such as a superior court.