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A high-profile trial in Kazakhstan is highlighting the entrenched drawback of home violence within the nation. The courtroom proceedings towards former Minister of Financial 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 dying. 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 the moment 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 drawback: 60 p.c of girls 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 line with information from considered one 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, because of 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 slender stereotypical gender roles, and offers girls no decision-making powers. Being a lady is way from straightforward; girls’s appearances and actions are broadly regulated by societal norms. Tatiana Chernobil, a human rights knowledgeable mentioned that “a lady is perceived not as an unbiased particular person, however in connection along with her function within the household.”
Analysis has proven that this devaluation and objectification of girls will increase the dangers of them being subjected to intimate associate violence. Kazakh custom places great strain on girls, notably newlywed brides, so-called “kelins.” Historically, a bride strikes in along with her husband and in-laws, the place she is liable for family chores, anticipated to be obedient and submissive, and anticipated to provide start to kids. A person, quite the opposite, is commonly seen as having a better standing than a lady, no matter a lady’s achievements and schooling.
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 lady who had fled her husband and moved to a disaster heart after enduring nearly 20 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 – thankfully with out success. The hosts even engaged in victim-blaming by suggesting that the lady had provoked her husband by not performing family duties correctly, making her husband jealous and, it was insinuated, maybe driving him to alcoholism. Fortuitously, the present was taken off the air.
Ex-minister Bishimbayev used an analogous tactic to manipulate the courtroom into pondering that his spouse was really guilty for the spate of violence that resulted in her dying 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 dying), and vulnerable to hysteria, implicitly justifying his actions. Bishimbayev admits inflicting her dying, however claims it was not accomplished deliberately.
The entire of Kazakhstan is speaking about this trial, each on and offline. Individuals are indignant, 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 regulation criminalizing bodily hurt, harshening punishments for violence towards girls and youngsters, and eradicating the potential of reconciliation in instances of home abuse.
U.N. Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Story mentioned 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 regulation in an environment friendly method, together with by elevating consciousness of home violence, coaching regulation enforcement and judicial officers, and making certain correct help to victims of home violence. “This complete strategy is important to create a society during which all individuals can dwell with out worry and violence in their very own properties,” she mentioned.
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. Up to now, 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 detrimental societal gender stereotypes that underpin sexist conduct and violence towards girls. At the very least the trial has instigated a debate in society, and drawn consideration to the issue of home violence in Kazakhstan, which is important if change is to ever happen.
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