Tajik authorities continue to violate the personal space of women in the country

In Tajikistan, starting from March 1, 2024, all female employees of state institutions are required to wear national dresses and outfits. The initiator of this idea, “Tojikona mepushim!” (“We dress in Tajik style!”) became the Committee on Women and Family Affairs, urging female employees of state institutions to wear exclusively traditional dresses made of atlas, adras, or chakana from March 1 to May 31.

The Committee on Women’s Affairs reports that this initiative is voluntary, but like any initiative imposed from above, it always has a voluntarily-compulsory nature. The goal of the campaign is to protect national culture and the prestige of Tajikistan in the context of globalization.

In Tajikistan, the season of public holidays begins in March, and March is always cold; however, the leaders organizing public celebrations dedicated to Navruz are little concerned about the health of children/girls who freeze in light dresses made of adras and atlas. The Ministry of Education denied information that children must wear national clothing forcibly, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the campaign.

On social media, people express outrage at the cost of protecting national clothing, arguing that health is more important than any ideological constructs, but the authorities do not respond to public discontent. Meanwhile, the fiscal prices for dresses made from the aforementioned fabrics start at least 500 somoni (40-45 USD).