Signing Into Law a Better, Safer Future for Women and Children

Kazakhstan has recently signed into law landmark legislation that helps ensure the rights and safety of women and children.

The United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan says that it is a “crucial step towards equality, justice [and] safety for all citizens [that] lay a foundation for a stable, prosperous society.”

Signed into law on April 15 by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the new legislation criminalizes domestic violence and increases penalties for offenders. Since coming to power in 2019, President Tokayev has been an advocate for women and children, echoing the wishes of the local society. By the time the bill reached the Senate, over 154,000 people had signed an online petition in support of the act. Key improvements under the law also include imprisonment sentences, isolation of the offender from the victim, and protection and support of the victim, including monetarily if the abuser was the financial support. It is considered to be the most extensive law Kazakhstan has ever passed for the protection of women and children.