Paving the Way for Legislative Reforms to Combat Domestic Violence in Kazakhstan

In June 2024, Kazakhstan implemented a groundbreaking law addressing domestic violence. The NGO Zhenskii Luch (Russian: “Women’s Ray”) was instrumental in developing this legislation. Supported by Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program, Zhenskii Luch is reforming approaches to domestic violence through its work with both survivors and aggressors across Kazakhstan.

Zhenskii Luch, led by Oksana Volkova-Mikhalskaya, has been working to prevent domestic violence since 2018. In 2022, with SICA support, Zhenskii Luch trained crisis center specialists in the Aqmola region to work individually with both survivors and aggressors. This approach had not been widely used in the region before.

Building upon this work, Zhenskii Luch next began offering psychological sessions for aggressors held in temporary detention centers in the Aqmola region. “Previously, psychologists were not allowed into detention centers,” explains Natalya Shavrova, a practicing psychologist and the organization’s project coordinator. “This practice of allowing psychologists into detention centers was first implemented in Kazakhstan within our project, and it has proven to be effective.”

During these sessions, psychologists consulted aggressors and offered them information about free psychological services available after their release. “It’s very important during the initial consultation in detention centers to engage the person, to do everything possible so that they themselves want to come to us for a secondary consultation,” Natalya explains. “For us, it was important not just to show up, fill out paperwork, and count the number of consultations held, but to genuinely involve the person in the process of change and show that through therapy, they can break out of this cycle.” Natalya’s observations proved correct: data showed that many aggressors, after their release, chose to continue therapy voluntarily.

Following this project’s success, Zhenskii Luch secured 29 million KZT (approximately 63,800 USD) in additional funding from the Civil Initiatives Support Center, a government agency under the Ministry of Culture and Information. This funding allowed the organization to expand its model to the regions of East Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Almaty, and the city of Astana.

One significant outcome of this expansion was the unification of crisis centers across the four regions of operation, which allows for a more coordinated response to domestic violence across the country. This unification strengthened the support network for both survivors and aggressors, ensuring that more individuals receive the help they need.

The new law, which came into effect in June 2024, incorporated several of Zhenskii Luch’s recommendations, including mandatory psychological interventions for aggressors. The law also enhanced support systems for families and increased penalties for domestic violence, reflecting the comprehensive approach championed by Zhenskii Luch.

“The adoption of these legislative changes is the result of the coordinated work of a large number of people,” Oksana adds. “We participated in working groups on this issue, and these numerous meetings collectively produced results.”

Looking ahead, Zhenskii Luch plans to continue its work to ensure the effective implementation of the new law and sustain the progress made in recent years. This includes ongoing training for crisis center specialists, expanding psychological services for aggressors, and advocating for further legislative reforms. “There are many nuances in psychological counseling for aggressors,” Natalya reflects. “It’s very important to keep engaging them, to show that there is a way out of the cycle of violence.”

One challenge that remains is the shortage of male psychologists willing to work in crisis centers and detention centers. “The fact that the overwhelming majority of psychologists are women creates problems, as it is easier for male aggressors to establish contact if the psychologist is a man,” Natalya acknowledges. Addressing this gap is a priority for Zhenskii Luch as they continue to refine their approach and expand their reach.