Kazakhstan joins the global UN campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence”

ASTANA, 25 November 2022 – Today marks the global launch of the United Nations “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence” global campaign. The theme of this year's campaign is "UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”. The national hashtag for Kazakhstan is #ЖалғызЕмессің ("You are not alone"). The official color of the global campaign is orange.

"Gender-based violence is a gross violation of human rights and freedoms causing long-term consequences for millions in all corners of the globe. According to the United Nations, there are 1.3 billion sexual violence survivors in the world today. Every third woman has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. We cannot accept a world where anyone can be at risk on the streets, in their homes, at work or online. In this regard, I call on the people of Kazakhstan to show zero tolerance for any kind of violence, to help and support the victims and not to keep silent if someone is in trouble nearby", highlighted Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

• The orange campaign in Kazakhstan opens on 25 November with the “Multistakeholder Dialogue in Central Asia «Combatting the violence: Women and Girls at risk. Addressing root causes of violence and supporting the survivors. Enhancing access to Justice” roundtable discussion. The event is organized in Astana by the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan, the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and UN Women Kazakhstan.
• Today, many cities in Kazakhstan will join the campaign by lighting city landmarks in orange, with the support of local authorities.
• Raising awareness videos on gender-based violence and survivor’s protection displaying on street LED-screens across Astana.
• As part of the campaign, Kazakhstani universities organized short videos contests and will host student discussions about addressing violence against women issues in society.
• Qyzdar Universiteti (Almaty), Zhubanov University (Aktobe) and Kozybayev University (Petropavlovsk) will host a screening of the documentary film "Run" about countering domestic violence by Kazakhstani filmmaker Rinat Balgabayev.
• 39 diplomatic missions and international organizations in Kazakhstan signed a joint statement expressing their readiness to support the necessary amendments to the country's legislation to protect women and girls from all forms of violence. UN Women Kazakhstan will also release a joint video message featuring messages from the diplomatic corps.
• A leaflet for domestic violence survivors was published by UN Women, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and AVON Kazakhstan. It presents contacts of crisis centers and police units for protection of women from violence in all regions of Kazakhstan.
• On December 9, Zhas Korermen Music Drama Theater in partnership with UN Women Kazakhstan invites residents and guests of Astana to the Chanel #5 performance. The play creates a remembrance tribute to the resilient women, survivors of the ALZHIR female camp (Akmola camp for the wives of so called “traitors of Motherland”).
• You are not alone Kazakh-language docudrama series will be launched during the campaign. The show addresses gender-based violence issues in Kazakhstan and features Kazakhstani human rights advocates, experts and civil activists.

The 16 days campaign against gender-based violence media tool kit is available here.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence global campaign starts annually on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, on Human Rights Day. Watch, listen, read, download and share with others.

For more information, please contact: 

• Ms Dinara Kussain, UN Women Communications and Advocacy Analyst in Kazakhstan, at +7 701 816 77 06 or dinara.kussain@unwomen.org
• Ms Elnara Bainazarova, Communications Officer of the UN in Kazakhstan: +7 701 940 00 86 or elnara.bainazarova@un.org