OSCE supports training seminar on provision of social services to domestic violence victims in Kazakhstan

A two-day training seminar supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana for social welfare workers and police officers on proper care and the provision of social services for victims of domestic violence, concluded in Kazakhstan’s capital on 25 November 2016.

Taking part in the seminar were some 50 officials from 11 regional administrations, police officers from the Units for Combating Violence against Women of all regions of Kazakhstan and representatives of the Health Care and Social Development and Interior Ministries as well as non-governmental organizations helping victims of domestic violence.  

Participants were acquainted with the newly-drafted standards of relevant services. The standards, which will enter into force in January 2017, detail practices and procedures that state and non-governmental organizations should observe when offering assistance to victims, including temporary shelter.

Experts and participants reviewed the legal basis for the provision of social services to victims of domestic violence, conditions for admitting and identifying victims as well as the minimum standards of care and services to be provided to victims. The training seminar also included some practical exercises and simulations to help social workers and police officers better understand the victims’ specific needs and ways to interact, when a domestic violence victim is identified.

The social services standards have been developed this year by the inter-department working group partially supported by the OSCE Programme Office. The document was drafted in accordance with the current national legislation and in line with the OSCE commitments, especially the OSCE Action Plan on the Promotion of Gender Equality (2004) and the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women (2005).

The training seminar took place as part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to assist the host authorities and civil society in preventing and combating domestic violence and in offering qualitative social services to victims.