The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan held a Side Event dedicated to combating domestic violence on the margins of the OSCE/ODIHR Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw. During the event, Ombudsperson presented the latest national developments and reforms in this area.

Kazakhstan has joined the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, and became the first country in the post-Soviet space to adopt a law on domestic violence, legally defining the phenomenon and establishing responsibility for it.

To date, a number of additional systemic measures have been adopted. Battery and minor bodily harm have been recriminalized. Reconciliation is no longer permitted in cases involving violence against minors or in cases of repeated acts of battery or minor harm.

Criminal liability has been introduced for sexual harassment of minors, as well as for aiding or inciting suicide. Rape of a minor is now punishable only by life imprisonment.

The punishment for kidnapping has been increased to up to 15 years in prison, and up to 10 years for unlawful confinement.

Criminal liability has been introduced for coercion into marriage with a maximum penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment.

This legal framework combines preventive measures with strict accountability for domestic violence offenses.

The effectiveness of these measures is confirmed by statistics. The number of domestic homicides has decreased by 32%, cases of serious bodily harm by 17%, and cases of moderate bodily harm by 11%. These results have been achieved through an 11% increase in the accountability of perpetrators, the active use of protective orders and special requirements, as well as deep cultural changes within society.

«Although battery and minor bodily harm have been classified as criminal offenses since last year, the total number of administrative cases continues to grow. This is linked to strengthened prevention efforts, early conflict resolution, and, most importantly, a changing mindset and family culture that rejects the silencing of domestic violence», emphasized Artur Lastayev.

He underlined that «the protection of the rights of women and children and the fight against domestic violence will always remain in the focus of the Human Rights Institution’s constant attention».

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ombudsman-ulytau-oblysy/press/news/details/1088537?lang=kk