Breaking the cycle of domestic violence: The need for early intervention

Women facing domestic violence will now have the right to divorce without a mandatory reconciliation period. In 2024, six women who had filed for divorce took their own lives during the six-month reconciliation period. These are just the cases of those who managed to submit their petitions. After reviewing court materials, Kun.uz uncovered the stories of six more women who never even got the chance to file.

Case 1: Dangara district

A man continuously subjected his wife and three children to psychological and economic abuse. He forced them into a life of hardship on the streets, leaving the woman and children without even the basic necessities, let alone enough food to eat.

She was humiliated, regularly beaten, and constantly insulted. On multiple occasions, she sought refuge at her parents’ home, only to be advised to endure the suffering for the sake of family ties and sent back. Even while pregnant, her husband abandoned her and the children on the streets.

In the end, she left behind a note, entrusting her newborn and eldest daughter to her relatives, writing:

"The greatest punishment is being falsely accused, having a tarnished name. I’m tired, I’m exhausted, I’ve had enough. My dearest, my caring mother, please forgive your foolish daughter. I couldn't be as patient and resilient as you. Please, don’t cry, don’t blame yourself. Just grant me your forgiveness."

After writing this, she took her own life.

The man was sentenced to seven years in prison under Article 103 of the Criminal Code for driving her to suicide.

Case 2: Kushrabot district

The defendant took advantage of his wife’s financial dependence, the fact that her parents had gone to work in the Russian Federation, and her inability to share family conflicts with them. He constantly accused her of being incapable of handling household chores, repeatedly insulted her dignity, treated her harshly and mercilessly, and subjected her to continuous physical abuse.

According to the deceased woman's mother, her daughter called her, saying that her husband had beaten her, that she was in poor condition, but was not being allowed to go to the hospital. The husband justified the beating by claiming it was because she had not washed the teapot and cups.

Despite having a higher education, the husband was unemployed and failed to provide his wife with food or other essential household items. He persistently humiliated her, calling her “the child of slaves,” and drove her to the brink of despair.

As a result, the woman took her own life by drinking vinegar.

The man was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Case 3: Koson district

You may remember this incident. In this family, the husband and his parents were imprisoned after driving their daughter-in-law to take her own life.

They treated her mercilessly, constantly subjecting her to physical and psychological abuse under various pretexts, provoking conflicts, and even taking away the money she earned through hard labor in the fields. The family members demanded that she leave their home and forced her to return to her parents.

Unable to receive help even from her own relatives, the woman took her own life.

The husband was sentenced to seven years in prison, the father-in-law received four years, and the mother-in-law was sentenced to three years, though her punishment was suspended with a probationary period.

Case 4: Karshi city

The deceased woman's husband and sister-in-law continuously humiliated and mistreated her. They told her, "You have no home here. This house belongs to my mother. I won’t let my brother live with you—I’ll marry him off to another woman. Get out of this house." They deliberately provoked conflicts, subjected her to emotional torment, and pressured her to leave for her parents' home.

Her own mother, instead of intervening, urged her to endure and be patient.

Following one such conflict, the deeply distressed woman told her daughter, "Take care of your little brother. I never had a happy life, but you should live well. Don’t give your brother to your father. If something happens to me, your uncle will take care of you." She also instructed her son, "If I die, take my body not from this house, but from your grandmother’s home."

That night, she took her own life.

The husband was sentenced to only three years in prison, while his sister received three years of restricted freedom.

Case 5: Payarik district

The husband, taking advantage of his wife's financial dependence, continuously humiliated her, threatened to throw her out of the house, and treated her cruelly. He systematically degraded her dignity—for instance, he beat her so severely that she lost consciousness, then dragged her by her legs into the kitchen.

The deceased woman’s mother recalled that her daughter had come to her five or six times after being beaten. When asked about the reason, she said that sometimes her husband would hit her for “not brewing the tea quickly enough,” and other times for “letting the tea get cold.” Despite this, whenever he apologized and begged her to return, she went back to him for the sake of their children.

The abusive husband even insulted her parents, blaming them for not raising their daughter properly.

Exhausted by the weekly beatings and constant humiliation, the woman took her own life — because no one, not even her closest relatives, protected her. Her three children were left orphaned.

The husband was convicted under Article 103 and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Case 6: Urgut district

The husband continuously oppressed his wife and children by failing to provide them with food and other basic necessities, despite being well-educated and working as a school deputy principal.

He became addicted to alcohol and used his affairs with other women as an excuse to constantly humiliate and beat his wife. He even threatened to drown her and their children in a canal.

After suffering repeated beatings that left her with physical injuries, the woman turned to the local community for help — only to be beaten even more severely as punishment for speaking out. Losing hope that her loved ones would protect her, she sentenced herself to death.

The husband was sentenced to eight years in prison, and their five children were left orphaned.

The woman – the main culprit

No matter how seriously efforts are made to combat violence, it seems to be increasing. Where are we going wrong in our measures against it? Recognizing domestic violence as a crime, extending the duration of protection orders — none of these measures seem to be working.

In society, blaming the woman has become the easiest and most accepted solution. We have become accustomed to living under illusions such as “You must endure,” “Things will get better,” and “If he beats you, it means he loves you.” Women who lack sufficient education, are unaware of their rights, and cannot support themselves are often left with no other option. In many cases, even their own families do not welcome them back, and if they return with their children, the situation becomes even worse. Parents feel ashamed if their daughter returns home after a divorce.

In such circumstances, for a woman in emotional distress, death may seem like a solution—leading to the thought, “I will escape by dying.” The most tragic part of this is that, in the end, the children are left without both a mother and a father, with their fate remaining uncertain. This can be considered a profound loss.

The insufficiency of the legal and protection system

Certainly, punishment is inevitable for any crime. However, the way it is enforced determines its actual effectiveness. Under Article 103 of the Criminal Code, offenders are sentenced to prison, yet some are released within as little as two years for "good behavior." What’s worse, once released, these individuals are not registered as violent offenders, meaning no one keeps track of them. Tragically, many of them go on to remarry. In most cases, the violence only intensifies, as they have already realized that the punishment is far lighter than they expected.

In 2023, a new law extended protection orders to one year. However, these orders are often treated as nothing more than a piece of paper, failing to save women from danger. We saw a tragic example of this in Bekabad, where Nodira lost her life despite having a protection order. Similarly, most of the six women mentioned earlier also had protection orders.

Significant challenges remain in Uzbekistan's efforts to combat domestic violence, as evidenced by the cases outlined above. What stands out is their common pattern — each involving a husband's psychological and financial abuse, relentless physical violence, and interference from third parties, ultimately leading six women to take their own lives as a result of domestic violence.

Punishment alone cannot prevent violence – insights from global practices

A system for identifying violent men with a predisposition for aggression within the family must be established in a timely manner. Currently, Uzbekistan has only focused on rehabilitating victims of domestic violence. However, the activities of the "National Agency of Social Protection" and rehabilitation centers have proven ineffective in addressing the root cause of the problem. Instead of focusing solely on victims, efforts should be directed at combating perpetrators.

If neither emergency assistance (rehabilitation) nor protection orders are proving effective, then the government must take urgent measures to maintain its credibility. Serious steps are needed to reduce the number of potential victims.

In international practice, identifying violent individuals and correcting their behavior begins as early as in schools.

In the United States, specialized research is conducted to identify and assess individuals prone to violence. Some states have dedicated programs for those with a tendency toward domestic violence. These programs provide psychotherapy and training to help participants modify their behavior.

The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France have also implemented programs specifically designed to reform men predisposed to violence. In Norway, when domestic violence is identified, it is the perpetrator — not the victim — who is removed from the home and provided with psychological support. In contrast, in Uzbekistan, many women have no choice but to endure abuse or resort to extreme measures due to a lack of safe alternatives.

In Canada, Australia, and other countries, the "White Ribbon Campaign" focuses exclusively on working with men, educating them to reject violence against women. These programs begin in schools, where young boys are tested for early signs of aggressive behavior. Preventive counseling services and training sessions are provided to curb such tendencies. Men at risk of committing violence are enrolled in behavioral management programs or specialized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to prevent escalation.

Early identification of perpetrators: A benefit to both the state and society

The social and economic costs of supporting victims of violence are substantial. These include expenses for safe shelters, medical and psychological assistance, and other critical services.

Early identification of perpetrators can significantly reduce these costs by preventing violence before it escalates, allowing funds to be allocated more effectively.

Investing in violence prevention and promoting healthy relationships yield long-term economic benefits, such as lowering healthcare expenses, reducing reliance on social services, and minimizing crime-related costs.