OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan supports conference on preventing gender-based violence against women and strengthening women's access to justice
An OSCE-supported international online conference entitled “Preventing Gender-based Violence against Women and Strengthening Women's Access to Justice” to mark the global campaign on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence concluded on 26 November 2020.
The event was jointly organized by the National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (National Commission), the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund, and Ne Molchi (Don’t Stay Silent) Public Fund. Some 80 members of the National Commission, representatives of the central state bodies, international organizations, employees of the regional Commissions for Women, Family and Demographic Policy, and heads of Crisis Centers took part in the event.
Key speakers led discussions on the best international practices in preventing domestic violence, issues related to the interagency response to domestic violence, activities of the crisis centers and effectiveness of the measures to prevent and combat violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fighting violence is one of the priorities of our government. Domestic violence has negative consequences on society and country’s development. All measures taken by Kazakhstan are aimed at creating zero tolerance for violence against women and children, said Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairperson of the National Commission in her opening remarks.
“In Kazakhstan, more than 500 applications are received every day by the police on family and domestic conflicts that is why protection and support from the state, international foundations, and non-governmental organizations should reach every family. It is necessary to carry out comprehensive, systematic work, both with survivors of violence and with aggressors. The only way to stop violence is to unite efforts and combat it together,” stated Dina Smailova, human rights activist and one of the leaders of the Ne Molchi International Movement.
In its efforts to tackle and mitigate gender-based violence, in 2020 the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan built capacity of Crisis Centers in eight regions of Kazakhstan by providing additional premises and hiring experts to provide comprehensive assistance to individuals subjected to domestic violence.
The conference is a part of the Programme Office’s multi-year effort to assist the host country and civil society in preventing and combating domestic violence and in raising public awarness on the issue.