Recent murder in Kazakhstan draws attention to domestic violence and gender discrimination
A very public tragedy in Kazakhstan put on display domestic violence at its worst. A quarrel in a restaurant in Astana on the evening of November 8th is reported to have resulted in the death of Saltanat Nukenova, the 31-year-old wife of Kuandyk Bishimbayev. Bishimbayev, who served as Minister of National Economy under former President Nazarbayev, was detained on the same day for suspected murder and remains under arrest awaiting trial. On November 11th, Saltanat was buried in Pavlodar. This appalling incident highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections against domestic violence. An authorized rally was held in Almaty in late November. Around 200 participants came out onto the square behind the Sary Arka cinema, holding posters and chanting slogans against domestic violence. The event was organized by a public movement called Zhana Adamdar and the attendees mostly included young people and students from the movement. Relatives of Saltanat Nukenova also took part. The participants wanted to raise awareness about fighting any manifestation of violence against women and children. Most of the attendees were dressed in the same style, and many of them had scarves with the inscription “Say no to the animal world,” which was also the title of the rally. Speakers at the event detailed the most resonant cases of violence in recent times while the organizers of the rally held a small flash mob and arranged an installation with mannequins in cages with animal masks on them. A minute of silence was observed in honour those who died as a result of violence. Progress in protecting women What proceeded this public tragedy hopefully presents a silver lining. A month later, on December 8, Kazakhstan's current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a Decree to strengthen human rights with concrete steps towards preventing violence and promoting gender equality. The Decree instructs Kazakhstan’s government to take systematic measures to promote equal rights and opportunities in all spheres of society, as well as to overcome all forms and manifestations of gender discrimination. The decree also encompasses legislation to deter domestic violence and promotes equal rights and safety for both men and women in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 13251. It further involves legislative measures to tighten criminal liability in cases of domestic violence, which have now been implemented. These measures aim to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that victims can get justice. Additionally, offenders of domestic violence may be required to undergo comprehensive psychological correction as part of their rehabilitation process. The Decree also asks for creating specialized units within the Ministry of Internal Affairs staffed with female officers, who can enhance the effectiveness of combating domestic violence. While the timing of the Decree coincided with the aftermath of Saltanat’s death, there are signs that these steps may have already been in the works. President Tokayev had voiced concerns about domestic violence before the current headlines emerged. At a meeting in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in June 2023, for example, he had affirmed that “comprehensive...
