Kazakhstan: Commissioner for human rights calls for action to end domestic violence and forced marriage

The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan is calling for action to end domestic violence and forced marriage in the country, Turanews.kz reports.

In a recent report, the Commissioner’s office found that domestic violence is a serious problem in Kazakhstan, with 300 murders committed by domestic aggressors in the last two and a half years. The report also found that forced marriage is still common in the country, especially in the southern regions.

The Commissioner’s office is proposing a number of amendments to the criminal law to address these problems, including the introduction of a separate article on kidnapping a person for the purpose of marriage. The office believes that these amendments will have a preventive effect and help to reduce the level of crime against women.

The General Prosecutor’s Office has supported the proposal of the Ombudsman, and the amendments will be jointly introduced in the course of legislative activities.

The Commissioner’s office is also calling for increased awareness of the problem of domestic violence and forced marriage, and for more support for victims of these crimes. The office is working with government agencies and civil society organizations to raise awareness of these issues and to provide support to victims.

The Commissioner for Human Rights, Elvira Azimova, said: “Domestic violence and forced marriage are serious human rights violations that have a devastating impact on women and girls. We must take action to end these crimes and to protect the rights of women and girls.”

The Commissioner’s office is calling on all stakeholders to work together to end domestic violence and forced marriage in Kazakhstan. The office believes that by working together, it is possible to create a society where all women and girls are safe from violence and discrimination.