Although anecdotal evidence suggests that domestic abuse and discrimination against women is widespread, no statistics are currently available (Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 5; World Religions and Cultures n.d.; IHF 5 Nov. 2000, Sec. 4.1). The government of Turkmenistan does not acknowledge the issue of domestic abuse; therefore, there are no specific government programs to address the needs of battered spouses (ibid.).

In 2000, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) indicated that the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan did not address domestic violence specifically (5 Nov. 2000, Sec. 4.1). In 2000 the only program to address domestic violence was an advocacy project that conducted seminars on the subject (IHF 5 Nov. 2000). In 2004, Country Reports 2003 indicated that at least one official women's group and several informal women's groups, operating in support of victims of domestic abuse, were active in the country (25 Feb. 2004).

Information on the existence of women's shelters was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "Turkmenistan." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27870.htm [Accessed 29 July 2004]

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). 5 November 2000. "Women 2000: An Investigation into the Status of Women's Rights in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewdocument.php?doc_id=2074 [Accessed 29 July 2004]

World Religions and Cultures. n.d. "Turkmenistan." http://wrc.lingnet.org/turkmen.htm [Accessed 18 Aug. 2004]

Internet sites, including: Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, International Committee of the Red Cross, News Central Asia, Open Society Institute, UNIFEM, VNN-Vaishnava News.