The German Embassy in Dushanbe actively supports initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality in the country.  This effort is part of the feminist foreign policy initiated by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

According to the German Ambassador to Tajikistan, York Schuegraf, the equal participation of all people in social, political, and economic life is of global importance.  Speaking to Asia-Plus, the ambassador explained why gender equality is fundamentally important and how men also benefit from its advancement.

“In Tajikistan, as in other countries, only a quarter of media stories focus on women, while three-quarters are centered on men,” said Ambassador Schuegraf.  He emphasized that such a disparity shapes public perceptions where audiences predominantly hear male perspectives.

To change this situation, the ambassador believes it is essential to actively involve women in public discussions to amplify their voices and opinions.

"Including women leads to greater prosperity," Mr. Schuegraf noted, adding that supporting equality contributes to societal harmony and the development of individual potential.

Gender equality benefits everyone

German diplomat explained that gender equality benefits society as a whole, including men.  For example, in Germany, where women make up more than half of the population, restricting their participation in economic and scientific life would limit the country’s potential.

In Tajikistan, however, civil society initiatives advocating gender equality are largely devoid of male participants.  Yet, various development strategies, including those endorsed by international organizations, stress the importance of involving men in this process.

"I have met young men in Tajikistan who understand the importance of gender sensitivity, though not all of them express their views publicly.  Engage with your husbands and friends, be patient. Don’t try to change them—they will either change themselves or not.  Engage in dialogue with local communities.  Discussions among activists and officials in five-star hotels won’t convince anyone," Mr. Schuegraf advised.

The ambassador also suggested different approaches to involve men in fostering gender equality: "If demands and political goals are translated into practical ideas, I am confident that most men will agree with them.  The expectations of your society might differ from those of, say, Germany.  Every society must choose its own path, and change happens slowly."

Media representation and gender-sensitive journalism

This year, the German Embassy supported a project on gender-sensitive journalism in Tajikistan, implemented by Internews in collaboration with local media professionals.  As part of the project, media outlets produced content, conducted research on gender issues, and aimed to expand their female audience.

During the project, Mr. Schuegraf was struck by the extremely low representation of women in public spaces, including in the media.

"Women’s realities must be presented to society from their perspective.  I see a direct link between the insufficient presence of women in the public sphere and issues of violence against them," Ambassador Schuegraf stated.

Statistics reveal inequality

According to Datareportal, a platform tracking user statistics worldwide, social media users in Tajikistan are predominantly male.

For example, women account for just over 26% of Facebook users compared to over 73% male users.  On Instagram, women represent slightly more than 23%, while men make up nearly 76.5%.  Compared to other Central Asian countries (excluding Turkmenistan), Tajikistan has the lowest percentage of women using the internet and social media.  In Kyrgyzstan, nearly 58% of social media users are women, while in Uzbekistan, the figure is 37%.

Experts and researchers attribute this disparity to restrictions on women’s access to information, economic challenges, and patriarchal norms prevalent in society.

A 2023 study by USAID’s Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) found that young and married women in Tajikistan often have limited access to mobile phones or smart devices because male relatives restrict their online activities, fearing they might communicate with other men.

In families with male migrant workers, smartphones are often available only to mothers-in-law, meaning that wives can communicate with their husbands only in the presence of these older relatives.