LOCATION : KAZAKHSTAN

Year Population % Male % Density Growth Rate

Female (km²)
2017 18,204,499 48.43% 51.57% 7 1.27%
2015 17,749,648 48.42% 51.58% 7 1.60%
2010 16,398,976 48.34% 51.66% 6 1.08%
2005 15,541,457 48.18% 51.82% 6 0.63%
2000 15,057,363 48.11% 51.89% 6 -1.25%
1995 16,034,956 48.46% 51.54% 6 -0.62%
1990 16,540,258 48.54% 51.46% 6 0.93%
1985 15,789,437 48.38% 51.62% 6 1.16%
1980 14,905,889 48.27% 51.73% 5 1.07%
1975 14,130,071 48.27% 51.73% 5 1.51%
1970 13,109,996 48.17% 51.83% 5 1.94%
1965 11,909,003 48.16% 51.84% 4 3.56%
1960 9,996,000 48.15% 51.85% 4 4.58%
1955 7,991,998 48.21% 51.79% 3 3.58%
1950 6,702,991 48.39% 51.61% 2 0.00%

Women’s Rights in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan confirms the ongoing policy aimed at achieving full equality for
women and men, and overcoming the persistent discrimination against women.
Ensuring socio-economic and physical security of women, respecting human
rights and freedoms, eliminating violence and discrimination of all kinds, as well
as empowering women are the most important priorities for the development of
states.

These objectives could be achieved through the implementation of a

comprehensive national policy with regard to family, equality of women and men
in the context of the Strategy of Accelerated Development till 2030, Gender
Equality Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006-2016 and international
treaties on family and gender equality, which Kazakhstan is a party to.

The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan of November 16, 2012 No. 50-V ratified
the ILO Convention concerning Equal Treatment and Equal Opportunities for
Men and Women Workers: Workers with Family Responsibilities.

In December 2009, Kazakhstan adopted the Law on State Guarantees of Equal

Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women and on the Prevention of
Domestic Violence.

The principle of equality of men and women was included in the Constitution of
the Republic of Kazakhstan and all applicable laws of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.

All the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan are aimed at establishing equality
between men and women. Special measures are aimed at the protection of
maternity, paternity and childhood; protection of women in connection with
pregnancy and childbirth; increase of life expectancy of men; protection of
women in the criminal, criminal procedure and criminal-executive legislation.

The Law on Crime Prevention adopted in 2010 according to the Interior Ministry
enabled creating a multi-level system of crime prevention through the use of
general preventive, special and individual measures.

The Interdepartmental Commission at the Government established in

December 2010 for crime prevention allowed for inter-agency coordination to
combat offenses and holding performance analysis in this field. The dynamic
implementation of legislation to combat discrimination and violence displays the
growth of discovered crimes that were previously treated latent that hindered
their detection, prosecution and punishment.
Gender equality in legal proceedings is ensured through basic principles of
proceedings that is the precise compliance with the requirements of laws by
courts both with respect to women and men; decisions and actions to avoid
humiliating or degrading treatment of the persons involved in the process;
equality of all before law and court; contentiousness and equality of parties;
openness, publicity and transparency of proceedings, and safety of parties.

However, the administrative or criminal proceedings provide the rules that

improve the status of women.

For example, in accordance with Article 55 of the Code of the Republic of

Kazakhstan on Administrative Offences administrative detention may not be
applied to pregnant women and women with children under the age of fourteen
years. According to Article 61 of the Code of Administrative Offenses any
offense committed by a pregnant woman or a woman with a child under the age
of three years shall be deemed a mitigating circumstance.

In accordance with Articles 48 and 49 of the Criminal Code such extreme

measure of punishment as life imprisonment and death penalty shall not be
imposed on women.

Kazakhstan supports the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and stresses

the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and
peacebuilding, their equal and comprehensive involvement in all efforts for the
maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

Kazakhstan believes that the UN is a key body in the uniting together

international, regional and national efforts in this field.

The structure of UN Women founded in summer of 2010 was a landmark in the

institutional reinforcing and reforming the UN gender architecture. In October
2010, Kazakhstan was elected to the Executive Council of this structure for
2013-2015.

Problems of gender equality in Kazakhstan & Laws Made by Kazakhstan

Government

Achievement of gender equality is one of main factors of sustainable human

development. Questions of gender equality and extension of the rights and
opportunities of women were included in the agenda of all most important
conferences of the UN, including the Millennium Summit which took place in
2000 in New York. This event was the top-level representative assembly called
for discussion of the issues of peace and development. The Millennium
Declaration adopted by representatives of 191 countries including 147 heads of
states, represents the most important of ever the made program documents
concerning development. Conventions of the UN “About the political rights of
women”, “About nationality of the married woman”, six conventions of the
International Labour Organization, including “About equal reward of men and
women for work of equal value” are ratified. For the solution of problems of a
family, women and children in 1995 the President of country created the Council
on Family and Women’s Affairs and
Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan. Concept of State policy
on improvement of women’s position in Kazakhstan had been developed by
Council and approved by the President of the country on March 5, 1997, No.
3395. In 1998 the Council was transformed into the National Commission for
Women and Family Affairs under the President of the Republic of
Kazakhstan. For the first time the National Plan of Action on advancement of
women in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which was approved by resolution of the
government of the Kazakhstan was developed in July 19, 1999, No. 999. By the
decree of the President of the Kazakhstan on September 19, 2002, No. 947
was founded the position of the Commissioner for Human Rights. Special
annual statistical compilation “Women and Men of Kazakhstan” is issued as
evidence of gender relations. To protect interests of families, women and
children at the legislative level in Parliament of Kazakhstan was created the
deputy group “Otbasy” (“Family”). The concept of a gender policy in Kazakhstan
defines the basic principles, priorities and task of a gender policy in Kazakhstan.
The basic principles of a gender policy set the equal rights and freedoms
guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan for women and
men.
Tasks of Kazakhstan gender policy are following:

 Achievement of the balanced involvement of women and men in power

structures;
 Support of equal opportunities for economic independence, development
of the business and promotion;
 Creation of conditions for equal implementation of the rights and duties
in a family;
 Freedom from gender-based violence.

The concept was developed on the basis of the Constitution of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, Strategy of Development of Kazakhstan 2030, the National Plan
of Action on advancement of women in Kazakhstan, the Convention of the
United Nations on liquidation of all forms of discrimination against women,
recommendations of the UN about its execution in Kazakhstan, other ratified
international treaties and agreements. The concept of a gender policy in
Kazakhstan is designed for the modern period of stabilization of socio-economic
status of the population and sustainable growth of the economy (up to 2010),
as well as long-term (up to 2030). Although, the difference between men’s and
women’s positions in the country is still exist. The equal rights guaranteed by
the Constitution are not reinforced by the guaranteed opportunities. Lack of
women at decision-making level, i.e. there are no women at high positions,
there is a gender inequality in labor market. Methods of achievement of gender
equality differ depending on many social, economic, political and cultural
factors, characteristic for this society. Feminists see the reason of a social
inequality particularly in the subordinate position of women, in exploiter entity of
capitalist or patriarchal systems, i.e. the gender is aspect of class stratification.
They believe that only with liquidation of the system, there is a solution of the
women’s problem of unequal position. The gender inequality hinders with
formation of the full-fledged types of social activities considering experience of
both men and women, so, limited involvement of women in political life,
discharge of women from the power at any level will restrict efficiency of the
state and its policy. Women of Kazakhstan, at least, the active ones, found the
high level of political consciousness and political culture, realizing importance
of women's role in structures of the power. Kazakhstan scientists consider
gender aspect as an important condition of political institutionalization of middle
class. The subject of gender equality in Kazakhstan became very topical after
the President of Kazakhstan signed the Law “About the Equal Rights of Men
and Women in Kazakhstan” on December 10, 2009. For generation of young
Kazakhstan citizens the subjects of a gender is associated with women’s
issues. The international and domestic experts imply such status of society
when men and women have approximately equal shares in the social power
and equal access to public resources (material, financial, information, cultural,
natural, etc.) Experts believe that gender equality gives opportunity to open
women’s potential, allows seeing personal merits in other person more fully and
removes dependence and paternalism. Nowadays women are responsible for
many social problems in our society. There is discrimination of women in family,
society and state. A real way of influence on a policy is broad involvement of
women and youth in social and authoritative structures. It is necessary to realize
those slogans which were empty promise in the conditions of the former regime.
The woman is urged not only to deal with problems of a family, but also select
sphere of the activities by herself. Today, women are not fully participate in the
decision making process of state issues. It is necessary to accept a state
program of the solution of women problems. Women lead states, become
ministers and leading politicians. In the program of the opportunities for women
to participate in political life and to take the leading positions at all levels of
society as in the state and private sectors. Thus, to achieve gender equality it
is necessary to provide official juridical equality in all spheres of life. Also, it is
necessary to undertake measures directed to elimination of those historical and
social conditions and factors which do not allow women and men “play” by the
same rules. Equality is the final result, and it will be reached when legislatively
affirmed equal rights are supported with special programs: for example, special
training of business ladies combining with gender sensitive credit conditions is
manifestation of gender equality. Implementation of programs of positive
actions for correction of gender balance in government bodies or in the private
sector promotes solidifying of gender equality and works for achievement of an
ultimate goal – gender equality.