Today marks the global launch of the United Nations “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence” global campaign. The theme of this year's campaign is "UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”. The national hashtag for Kazakhstan is #ЖалғызЕмессің (You are not alone). Official color of the global campaign is orange, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
«Gender-based violence is a gross violation of human rights and freedoms causing long-term consequences for millions in all corners of the globe. According to the United Nations, there are 1.3 billion sexual violence survivors in the world today. Every third woman has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. We cannot accept a world where anyone can be at risk on the streets, in their homes, at work or online. In this regard, I call on the people of Kazakhstan to show zero tolerance for any kind of violence, to help and support the victims and not to keep silent if someone is in trouble nearby» Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan
- The orange campaign in Kazakhstan opens on 25 November with the “Multistakeholder Dialogue in Central Asia «Combatting the violence: Women and Girls at risk. Addressing root causes of violence and supporting the survivors. Enhancing access to Justice” roundtable discussion. The event is organized in Astana by the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan, the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and UN Women Kazakhstan.
- Today, many cities in Kazakhstan will make their tribute via turning on orange lighting of city landmarks, with the support of local authorities.
- Raising awareness videos on gender-based violence and survivors protection launched on street LED-screens in Astana.
- As part of the campaign, Kazakhstani universities organize short videos contests and student discussions about addressing violence issues in society.
- Qyzdar Universiteti (Almaty), Zhubanov University (Aktobe) and Kozybayev University (Petropavlovsk) will host a screening of the documentary film "Run" about countering domestic violence by Kazakhstani filmmaker Rinat Balgabayev.
- 39 diplomatic missions and international organizations in Kazakhstan signed a joint statement expressing their readiness to support the necessary amendments to the country's legislation to protect women and girls from all forms of violence. UN Women in Kazakhstan also prepared a joint video message from the diplomatic corps.
- A leaflet for domestic violence survivors was published by UN Women, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and AVON Kazakhstan. It presents contacts of crisis centers and police units for protection of women from violence in all regions of Kazakhstan.
- On December 9, 2022 Zhas Korermen Music Drama Theater in partnership with UN Women Kazakhstan invites residents and guests of Astana to the Chanel #5 performance. The play creates a remembrance tribute to the resilient women, survivors of the ALZHIR female camp (Akmola camp for the wives of so called “traitors of Motherland).
- You are not alone Kazakh-language docudrama series will be launched during the campaign. The show covers addressing gender-based violence issues in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani human rights advocates, experts and civil activists take part in the series.
The 16 days against gender-based violence campaign media kit is here.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence global campaign starts annually on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and will be traditionally ended on December 10, on the World Human Rights Day. Watch, listen, read, download and share with others.
