Background information in the field of family policy

Family policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan is an important component of the entire social policy of the state.

The Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 1, 2022 No. 853 amended the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 6, 2016 No. 384 «On approval of the Concept of family and gender policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030».

In order to strengthen the institution of the family, to provide comprehensive measures of support to families, Family Support Centers will be created, family conflict resolution and temporary accommodation for women with children.

A digital family card will be developed and implemented, which will allow to quickly identify and provide assistance to families who find themselves in a difficult life situation.

Taking into account the gender aspect, it is planned to improve labor legislation, which provides for the definition of the right of single parents to a remote work format and a reduced employment regime. 

To expand women's economic opportunities, it is planned to open 15 Centers for the development of women's entrepreneurship, train rural women and women from vulnerable groups in skills in demand on the labor market, and a gender needs assessment map will be developed.

The Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of Family and Gender Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030 includes target indicators and strategies of the Concept. The activities of the action plan are aimed at strengthening and supporting the institution of the family, protecting reproductive health, preventing domestic violence against children and women, ensuring equal employment of men and women, and promoting gender education.

Under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Commission for Women's Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy operates, and in the regions there are relevant advisory bodies.

A Committee on Youth and Family Affairs has been established in the structure of the Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Since 2013, Family Day has been celebrated in Kazakhstan every second Sunday of September. Since 2014, the national competition «Mereyli otbasy» has been held annually, which is aimed at reviving moral values and cultivating a positive image of family and marriage (matrimony), raising the status of the family. Over the years, more than 18 thousand families from all regions of Kazakhstan have participated in the competition.

There are 36 crisis centers operating in all regions of Kazakhstan (31 of them have shelters), whereas in 2006 there were only 24 centers in 10 regions in which victims of domestic violence were provided with a guaranteed amount of special social services.

There are 31 family support centers «Zhanuya», «Bakytty Otbasy» and others in the regions. The centers provide psychological, social, legal and other necessary assistance to every family in a difficult life situation, as well as comprehensive support in the development of the family institute.

In 2022, the following projects in the field of family policy are being implemented within the framework of grant funding of NGOs:

- Institutionalization of measures to strengthen family values among young people;

- Organization of the activities of the family resource support centers at the family courts «Bakytty Otbasy»;

- Social and psychological support for families with disabled children with disabilities;

- Organization and holding of «Armandar oryndalady» actions;

- Financial literacy begins in the family;

- Map of gender needs and needs: the influence of ethnicity, region and class;

- Development and implementation of a set of measures to support families with children in difficult life situations;

- Formation of values of a strong family among young people.

In addition, within the framework of the state task, the Center for the Study of the Institute of the Family of NAO «Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development» implements a number of services for scientific and methodological support of the sphere of family policy:

1) National report «Kazakh families - 2022»;

2) Sociological research «Civil marriage as a model/form of family and marriage relations in Kazakhstan»;

3) Sociological research «Gender policy in modern Kazakh society»;

4) Sociological research «Social integration and adaptation in the society of children from orphanages».

Key indicators in the field of family policy

According to the data of the National Population Census of 2009, the number of families in the republic amounted to 4,022,388, of which 2,233,496 were urban families, 1,788,892 rural families. In 1999, 3,532,167, of which 2,158,972 urban families, 1,373,195 rural families.

According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the number of registered marriages by the end of 2021 amounted to 140,256 units (2020 – 128,839).

The number of registered divorces for 2021 was 48,239 units (2020 – 48,002).

There is a decrease in the share of dissolved marriages by the number of registered marriages (in 2021 – 34.4%, in 2020 – 37.2%).

The largest number of divorces in Almaty (5,281), Almaty (5,075), Karaganda regions (4,717), Nur-Sultan (4,296).

According to the National Report «Kazakhstani Families 2020», cases of domestic violence (43.2%), problems of alcoholism, drug addiction of one of the spouses (39.7%), cases of adultery (35.8%) can serve as a justified reason for divorces in the opinion of Kazakhstanis.

According to the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2021, 1047 offenses committed in the family and household sphere were registered (2020 - 1072), criminal offenses against the family and minors - 502 (2020 - 443).

A high level in the number of offenses committed in the family and household sphere remains in East Kazakhstan, Almaty and Karaganda regions, and a low level - in Atyrau, Kyzylorda and Mangystau regions.