A high-profile trial in Kazakhstan is highlighting the entrenched downside of home violence within the nation. The court docket proceedings towards former Minister of Economic system Kuandyk Bishimbayev are being live-streamed to the general public, intensifying consideration to the case and the broader points. Bishimbayev is accused of beating his spouse, Saltanat Nukenova, to demise. A heated dialogue about home violence has flared up as soon as once more whereas the nation holds its breath pending the decision.
On November 9, 2023, Bishimbayev and his spouse Nukenova have been in an Astana restaurant, the place Bishimbayev spent a number of hours beating her, after which she died. A lot of the violence was captured by safety cameras within the restaurant. Bishimbayev is at present on trial for homicide. However – even when discovered responsible – he’s removed from the one perpetrator of home violence within the nation. In line with statistics from the United Nations, round 400 girls die yearly in Kazakhstan because of associate violence.
Home violence stays a major downside: 60 p.c of ladies in Kazakhstan between 15 and 49 years of age have skilled violence from a associate of their lifetime. One in six kids develop up witnessing home violence, in keeping with knowledge from one in every of Worldwide Partnership for Human Rights’ (IPHR) companions in Kazakhstan, the Union of Disaster Facilities. Nevertheless, home violence is commonly thought of a taboo topic and underreporting is a major subject, attributable to societal stigma or compelled reconciliation of victims with their abusers.
However why is home violence so widespread? One of many causes is the patriarchal construction of society, which devalues girls, favors slim stereotypical gender roles, and provides girls no decision-making powers. Being a girl is much from straightforward; girls’s appearances and actions are extensively regulated by societal norms. Tatiana Chernobil, a human rights professional stated that “a girl is perceived not as an unbiased particular person, however in connection together with her function within the household.”
Analysis has proven that this devaluation and objectification of ladies will increase the dangers of them being subjected to intimate associate violence. Kazakh custom places super strain on girls, notably newlywed brides, so-called “kelins.” Historically, a bride strikes in together with her husband and in-laws, the place she is answerable for family chores, anticipated to be obedient and submissive, and anticipated to present beginning to kids. A person, quite the opposite, is commonly seen as having the next standing than a girl, no matter a girl’s achievements and training.
Home violence is commonly additionally excused by guardians of morality on state TV. Lately, the hosts of a discuss present on the state TV channel Khabar spoke to a girl who had fled her husband and moved to a disaster heart after enduring nearly twenty years of alcohol-fueled violence from her husband. The hosts shockingly introduced in her ex-husband, and tried to coerce her to reconcile with him – luckily with out success. The hosts even engaged in victim-blaming by suggesting that the girl had provoked her husband by not performing family duties correctly, making her husband jealous and, it was insinuated, maybe driving him to alcoholism. Thankfully, the present was taken off the air.
Ex-minister Bishimbayev used the same tactic to manipulate the court docket into pondering that his spouse was really in charge for the spate of violence that resulted in her demise final November. He accused Nukenova of aggression, being psychologically unstable, drunk (though an examination of the corpse confirmed that she was not drunk on the time of her demise), and susceptible to hysteria, implicitly justifying his actions. Bishimbayev admits inflicting her demise, however claims it was not carried out deliberately.
The entire of Kazakhstan is speaking about this trial, each on and offline. Persons are offended, and the hashtag #ZaSaltanat (for Saltanat) is trending. Home violence and femicide is again on the agenda once more.
In a welcome transfer, on April 15 President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a legislation criminalizing bodily hurt, harshening punishments for violence towards girls and kids, and eradicating the opportunity of reconciliation in circumstances of home abuse.
U.N. Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Story stated that this “marks a major step in direction of ending all types of gender-based violence,” however referred to as on the authorities to implement and implement the legislation in an environment friendly method, together with by elevating consciousness of home violence, coaching legislation enforcement and judicial officers, and making certain correct help to victims of home violence. “This complete strategy is critical to create a society wherein all folks can reside with out worry and violence in their very own houses,” she stated.
NGOs such because the Union of Disaster Facilities in Kazakhstan perform essential work serving to girls perceive their rights and break away from conditions of home violence. Previously, IPHR has additionally labored with the Union of Disaster Facilities to spotlight points of home violence in Kazakhstan and advocate for change.
It doesn’t matter what the decision towards Bishimbayev seems to be, change in relation to home violence in Kazakhstan is lengthy overdue. Maybe this trial will present the premise for a vital change in public opinion and start to eradicate societal acceptance of home violence and – slowly – reverse unfavorable societal gender stereotypes that underpin sexist habits and violence towards girls. A minimum of the trial has instigated a debate in society, and drawn consideration to the issue of home violence in Kazakhstan, which is critical if change is to ever happen.
