WOMEN – FIGHTERS ON THE PATH TO PEACE AND NATIONAL UNITY
Whenever the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, speaks about the restoration of constitutional governance and the establishment of peace and national unity in Tajikistan, he always emphasizes with special appreciation that one of the reasons the Government was able to achieve success so quickly was precisely the support and assistance of women and girls. This is why he highly values the important role and status of women in achieving unity and ensuring peace and stability in society.
In the run-up to the signing of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan, during his participation in the Congress of Women’s Associations and Women’s Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic, held on 26 April 1997, President Emomali Rahmon expressed this idea through specific examples, stating: “In the most heated moments of confrontation, Tajik women fearlessly stepped between the conflicting sides and, through advice, guidance, and warm and sincere words, extinguished the flames of ignorance and anger. From the beginning of negotiations with the opposition – even though these meetings were held far from our homeland – Tajik women, through their appeals, letters, and telegrams, called on the participants in the negotiations to seek mutual understanding, agreement, compromise, and reconciliation.”
The political confrontation and the imposed civil war in Tajikistan during those years were indeed so harsh and ruthless that they did not spare women and mothers either.
The Head of State, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, has repeatedly noted that at the time the Government was being formed, not everyone had the courage to work, and not everyone believed the Government would endure. Statistics show that it was precisely during that period that many women were brought into leadership positions. Among them were Gulafzo Savriddinova, Adolat Rahmonova, Munira Inoyatova, Zuuraqan Davlatalieva, Bozgul Dodkhudoeva, Adolat Uzoqova, and others, who carried out important state responsibilities during that time.
It was also during that period that Women’s Advisory Councils were established in nearly all regions of Tajikistan. Through meetings with women, mothers, and young women, they discussed pressing issues of the time and taught women effective ways to prevent war and violence. Through these councils, well-known women of the country – such as Enajon Boymatova, Zulaykho Qalandarova, and Sufro Boqieva, who enjoyed wide public respect – organized gatherings and encouraged people to support the new Government.
Another important aspect of women’s and mothers’ contribution to restoring and strengthening peace, unity, and stability in Tajikistan was their participation in the well-known Radio Tajikistan program “Khoki Vatan” (“Soil of the Homeland”). Their heartfelt and compassionate words, as well as the rubo‘i and dubayti poems they composed, helped encourage the return of many compatriot refugees from Afghanistan and other countries. For this reason, the contribution of women and mothers to achieving peace, security, and full national unity deserves high recognition.
Indeed, the sustainability of peace and stability and the calm of society depend on the strong will, purity of heart and intention, wisdom, intellect, and continuous efforts of women and mothers. Educating young people in the spirit of patriotism, diligence, self-awareness, and protection of the borders and territory of a prosperous and peaceful homeland is the vital and sacred mission of Tajik peace-loving and peacebuilding women and mothers.
Habibova S.S. – Academic Secretary of the Research Institute for Sustainable Development and Green Economy, PhD (Economics),
Acting Associate Professor
