Kazakhstan has launched 16 Days of Activism campaign

International Conference dedicated to law enforcement practice of the law on prevention of domestic violence was held in Kazakh capital Astana on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The conference marked the launch of annual international campaign to fight violence against women 16 Days of Activism in Kazakhstan.

At the conference organized by the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UN Development Programme, UN Women, OSCE Centre Astana with the support from the Embassy of the United Kingdom representatives of authorities, non-governmental organizations and mass media have discussed problems of law enforcement practice in the area of prevention of domestic violence and access of women to justice with further elaboration of recommendations for improvement of law enforcement mechanisms of the law On Prevention of Domestic Violence.

Giving her welcoming speech Minister of labour and social protection of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairwoman of the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova has paid attention to positive tendencies in the struggle against domestic violence by mentioning increase of number of crisis centres across the country and forthcoming opening of the first state crisis centre in Almaty. Ms Abdykalikova has thanked UN Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women UN Women in the face of Regional Programme Director Damira Sartbaeva for permanent assistance to the Government of Kazakhstan in elaboration and implementation of laws aimed at the empowerment of women and enhancement of their role in the society.

Quoting UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet Damira Sartbaeva paid particular attention to the importance of provision of state services to domestic violence survivors, including free medical, legal and psychological help. Ms Sartbaeva made an important point regarding the opening of the first state crisis centre in Almaty and called the Government of Kazakhstan to continue this initiative and finance opening of other state centres in other cities of Kazakhstan.

President of the Crisis Centre Podrugi Nadezhda Gladyr presented the results of monitoring of the implementation of the law On Prevention of Domestic Violence and made her suggestions regarding amendments to the existing law and the Administrative Code. Ms Gladyr made suggestion in the part of preventive measures against the offender, special requirements to his behavior, custody of children and property right before consideration of the dispute in the court and provision of public services to domestic violence survivors.

Member of Parliament of the IV Convention, Member of the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhakyp Asanov presented a bill of amendments to the legislation on prevention of domestic violence which includes suggestions from the Crisis Centre Podrugi, Union of Crisis Centres and Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Besides the suggestions from Crisis Centre Podrugi voiced by Nadezhda Gladyr the bill includes amendments in the part of duration and examination of implementation of the preventive order and funding of the development of infrastructure aimed at protection, rehabilitation, reintegration and adaptation of victims of domestic violence from the state budget. Mr Asanov also suggested to create a Working Group to discuss recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the legislation on domestic violence with further presentation of the work of the Working Group at various levels of executive and legislative power.