Kazakhstan’s call on global community to eliminate domestic violence widely supported at UN

The document, which highlights the global problem of domestic violence and draws the attention of the world community to it, was discussed for the first time at the UN human rights platform. It was drafted jointly with the Central Asian countries: the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan’s initiative is based on the country’s human rights priorities and the systemic reforms of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In particular, the law on the criminalization of domestic violence, adopted in April 2024, stimulated the promotion of this initiative on the UN’s global human rights platform.

In this resolution, the UN recognizes for the first time that domestic violence is the most common and least publicized form of violence. It also calls on all states to take concrete measures to prevent and eliminate domestic violence, protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

To further contribute to the elimination of domestic violence, the Human Rights Council decided to include this issue in its work plan for 2025 and to adopt a comprehensive report with recommendations on how to address the structural and underlying causes and risk factors of domestic violence.

Kazakhstan’s resolution received broad international support. It was co-sponsored by more than 60 countries, including the United States, China, countries of the European Union, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The resolution has become another tangible result of Kazakhstan's work during the three-year term of its membership in the UN Human Rights Council, which ends this year.

It should be recalled that last year, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, the resolution “Ensuring Quality Education for Peace and Tolerance for Every Child” was adopted at the UN Platform in Geneva.