LocationsThe second cohort of 21 young women lawyers comes from all regions of Tajikistan, building on the success of the first cohort, where 15 out of 23 participants obtained advocate status from the Ministry of Justice.
UNDP and Finland Foster Young Women Lawyers to Deliver Justice in Hard-to-Reach Tajikistani Communities
December 24, 2025
Graduates of the second cycle of the UNDP and Union of Advocates of Tajikistan Internship Programme for Young Women Lawyers at the graduation ceremony.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
In Tajikistan, where around 70 per cent of people live in rural, often mountainous areas, access to justice remains a challenge, especially for women. In a society where traditional norms are often stronger than the law, women do not always fully enjoy their rights, particularly when law enforcement is mostly male. Women advocates can better understand these challenges, provide legal support, and raise awareness about women’s rights.
Recognising this, UNDP, together with the Union of Advocates of Tajikistan, launched the second cycle of the Internship Programme for Young Women Lawyers under UNDP’s Supporting Women in Law (SuWIL) Project. Some of the capacity-building activities for the interns were supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Twenty-one young women lawyers from Khatlon, Sughd, Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO), and the Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS) completed the internship and are now ready to help improve access to justice in their communities and across Tajikistan.
UNDP's partnership with the Union of Advocates of Tajikistan laid the foundation for the development of this Internship Programme. The Union supported and confirmed that the Internship Programme meets their requirements, especially, replenishing the legal services market with young and professional female lawyers, who are sorely lacking in the regions.
This partnership with the Union of Advocates to reduce the gender gap in the justice sector has achieved systemic change. Fifteen of the 23 graduates from the first cohort of 2024 passed the exam and obtained a license to practice as advocates, increasing the number of women advocates in the country by 7%.
Also, as a result of joint advocacy of the Union of Advocates together with the Ministries of Justice and Education, the women interns of the 2024 cohort, who were law graduates of Bokhtar State University, named after Nosiri Khusrav, were made eligible for the first time to sit for the bar exam and become advocates. This decision has opened doors for all the graduates of this University to appear for the bar exam.
The second graduating class of the Internship Program from the group of 2025 completed their course in December 2025, and many of them intend to appear for the bar exam to receive the status of advocates in early 2026.
Challenging Norms: How Shukrona Stands Up for Herself and Others
Shukrona Jalilova, 29, from Bokhtar in Khatlon region, is one of the interns in UNDP’s programme for young women advocates. Her journey is a powerful story of perseverance and success.
Like many women in Tajikistan, Shukrona entered marriage with hopes of building her career, expecting support from her husband’s family. However, she soon encountered a challenging reality. Her husband, who doubted her aspirations because she was a woman, discouraged her from pursuing professional ambitions.
Shukrona Jalilova from Bokhtar, Khatlon region, intern of the UNDP and Union of Advocates Internship Programme for Young Women Advocates.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
“I got married in 2015, the same year I was to graduate with my master’s degree, and later became a mother to my first child,” Shukrona recalls. “My husband is a lawyer, and I believed I would have his support. But things turned out differently.” She adds, “I wanted to continue working as an educated woman, but my husband insisted that a woman’s role is to care for children and stay at home.”
A turning point came when Shukrona’s mother-in-law faced a legal issue and required assistance. Shukrona offered her help and successfully resolved the matter. This earned her family’s trust and recognition of her skills and potential, opening the door for her to pursue her career.
Shukrona receives her graduation certificate from Alisher Khaidarov, Head of the Union of Advocates of Tajikistan, and Lazima Onta-Bhatta, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, during the graduation ceremony.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
“I am a PhD student at Bokhtar State University and also lecture in law. The money I earn from my stipend and teaching helps reduce the family’s financial pressures, and over time, my husband began to respect my work,” she shares.
In Tajikistan, challenging traditional expectations within a family can sometimes strain relationships. Shukrona’s story demonstrates how persistence, patience, and skillful communication can enable a woman to gain respect and support while pursuing her professional goals.
A mother of two considers herself fortunate to have joined UNDP’s internship program, designed for women under 30, just as she approaches her 30th birthday. Over six months, she received mentorship from experienced advocates at the Union of Advocates in the Khatlon region, gaining hands-on experience in civil law, case filing, evidence collection, and oral advocacy.
“My long-standing dream has been to become a practising advocate and provide legal support to women in hard-to-reach rural areas who face pressure and violence,” Shukrona says. “Having faced similar challenges myself, I feel I can offer meaningful support to women in need.”
From Faraway Panjakent, Tamanno Aspires to Fight Digital Violence Against Women
Another enthusiastic intern of UNDP’s internship program is Tamanno Lutfullozoda, 24. She aspires to be a role model for her peers and provide them with legal support. Currently, she is a first-year PhD student at the Russian-Tajik Slavic University.
Tamanno Lutfullozoda from Panjakent, Sughd Region, another intern of the Programme.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
Seven years ago, Tamanno left Panjakent, a remote district in the northern Sughd region of Tajikistan, to pursue her dream of becoming an advocate. A young woman in science, like her peer Shukrona from Bokhtar, Tamanno was eager to explore the practical aspects of being an advocate.
“I am incredibly fortunate to have parents who have always believed in me and invested so much in my education. My mother is a teacher, and my father, a taxi driver, has worked tirelessly to make sure I have every opportunity to pursue higher education,” she says. “I hope my future partner will share the same belief in supporting and encouraging my ambitions.”
Tamanno reflects on her experience in the Internship Programme for Young Women Lawyers during the graduation ceremony.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
Tamanno emphasizes that the most valuable aspect of the internship was learning how to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life settings and gain confidence in actual court processes, defending vulnerable groups who need legal assistance.
“In the future, like many of my fellow interns, I want to become a human rights advocate while continuing my work in science. I also plan to become a trainer on digital violence and train other young specialists in this field, as statistics show that most victims of digital violence are women,” she shares.
Tabassum Shuhratzoda, Khujand, intern of the Young Women Lawyers Internship Programme.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
Tabassum’s Story: Turning Internship into Employment
Tabassum Shuhratzoda, 22, from Khujand, a northern city of Tajikistan, recently graduated from the Law Department of Law and Business State University. With a solid foundation in theoretical knowledge, she recognized the need for practical, hands-on experience to begin her career as an advocate.
“Once, I had a serendipitous meeting with the head of the Union of Advocates in Khujand, Mr. Sadriddin, during an event in Dushanbe. He asked where I had graduated from – I told him the Law Department – and he invited me to apply for this program. And here I am,” Tabassum recalls happily.
Tabassum receives her graduation certificate from Alisher Khaidarov, Head of the Union of Advocates of Tajikistan, and Lazima Onta-Bhatta, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, during the graduation ceremony.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
UNDP’s Internship Program for Young Women Lawyers not only boosted Tabassum’s confidence in her potential but also opened the door to her first professional role. She secured employment at the Union of Advocates in Khujand, where she is surrounded by experienced human rights advocates eager to support her growth.
Looking ahead, Tabassum aims to become an independent advocate, and through her dedication and the skills she is gaining, she is successfully paving the way toward this goal.
About the Programme
After completing the Internship Program, 21 young women, like the previous cohort of 23 young advocates, will sit for the qualification exam to become licensed advocates under the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan. Passing this exam will not only validate their hard work but also grant them automatic membership in the Union of Advocates of Tajikistan, officially enabling them to serve their communities.
Reflecting on the six-month program, Madina Otaboeva, one of the lead trainers, highlights the remarkable progress made by the participants. “When these young women joined the program, many were still hesitant about their abilities. Today, they approach their work with confidence, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose. Their commitment to becoming skilled legal professionals is evident,” she says.
Madina Otaboeva, one of the lead trainers of the Internship Programme for Young Women Lawyers.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
Madina emphasizes that the impact of the internship will extend well beyond its duration. “This program has given them more than technical knowledge. It has shaped their professional mindset and strengthened their sense of responsibility towards the communities they will serve. I am confident they will use these skills to support fairer and more accessible justice.”
The internship offered a practice-oriented learning experience, combining hands-on legal work with focused capacity development. Participants enhanced their legal drafting skills while gaining deeper knowledge of national legislation, including the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on the Prevention of Violence in the Family.
As a result of this intensive training, interns such as Shukrona, Tamanno, and Tabassum, alongside their peers, have built both professional competence and personal resilience. Equipped to handle real cases, they are ready to serve as drivers of positive change, addressing everyday legal challenges that make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals.
UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin
Working in small teams, the interns prepared essential legal documents, including divorce applications, alimony requests, and formal complaints regarding the inaction of law enforcement bodies. Each assignment was carefully reviewed with mentors and fellow participants, enabling the interns to strengthen their legal reasoning, gain practical confidence, and translate theory into effective legal practice.
For media inquiries, please contact Nigora Fazliddin, UNDP Tajikistan Communication Analyst: nigora.fazliddin@undp.org
