Quantifying a hidden crisis: Challenges in addressing domestic violence against women in Kazakhstan

Domestic violence against women (VAW) is one of the pressing issues in society, but it often remains latent due to underreporting and social norms that place women in a disadvantaged position. Despite the implementation of legal acts and policies to ensure gender equality and the elimination of VAW, these types of offenses are still concealed, resulting in a cycle of abuse and silence. This study utilizes a quantitative research design to examine the issue of domestic VAW in Kazakhstan, based on data from two distinct surveys. The initial survey focused on a sample of the Kazakhstani population, consisting of 395 respondents aged 18 to 65. The second survey involved 29 professionals working at three regional crisis centers and organizations that support victims of domestic VAW. Furthermore, official data from the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan regarding VAW during the period of 2018 to 2022 was analyzed. The findings indicate that there is a low probability of reporting domestic VAW to the authorities, highlighting a gap in awareness and trust in available legal and support systems. The study contributes to the field by identifying barriers to reporting domestic VAW and assessing the effectiveness of government interventions.