DUSHANBE, November 27, 2015, Asia-Plus – A government session that was held by President Emomali Rahmon on November 27 endorsed a draft law amending the country’s family code, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

The amendments proposed by the government to the family code, in particular, require couples who want to marry to undergo a mandatory medical examination.

The legislation reportedly aims to prevent close relatives from marrying each other.

We will recall that the push to mandate the exams comes after President Emomali Rahmon in January this year instructed the government to ban consanguineous marriages – marriages between first cousins and other blood relations – which he blamed for causing the majority of disabilities among Tajik children.

Under 2006 legislation, genetic and virginity tests are currently available free-of-charge in Tajikistan – but they are not mandatory.

A November 27 meeting also discussed and endorsed the national population employment support program designed for 2016-2017.  The program provides for creating 302,300 new jobs.

The government also endorsed the pasture development program for 2016-2020 and the program for assessing Tajikistan’s reserves of rare metals designed for 2016-2026.

The session also endorsed a draft law on insurance activity and draft laws amending the country’s laws on public service, leasing, public health protection, and the family code.  All the draft laws were sent for consideration to Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).