A round table to discuss draft amendments to several national legislative acts relating to domestic violence and violence against women was held on 9 December 2022 in Astana. The event was co-organised by the Council of Europe, the UN Women and the Commissioner for Human Rights of Kazakhstan.

The round table provided an opportunity to share the first set of recommendations prepared by a Council of Europe expert in line with the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The recommendations focused on improving the framework of protection of victims of violence, increasing their access to justice and ensuring appropriate remedies.

Further assistance is planned, in co-operation with the UN Women, to help Kazakhstan improve its legislation in the light of international standards and, in particular, the Istanbul Convention, to which the country was invited to accede in 2020.

This support is provided in the framework of the Action “Facilitating the creation of a common legal space between Europe and Central Asia and enhancing human rights protection » of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023. The Programme is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.