Social and Legal Studios
ISSN 2617-4162
e-ISSN 2617-4170
Publisher: Lviv State University of Internal Affairs
Abstract
The relevance of this study is to analyse of domestic violence against women in rural regions, which can enhance the creation of improved support and protection systems for victims. This study aimed to examine social work and the obstacles encountered by social workers in supporting women from rural regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan who have suffered domestic violence. The study employed comparative and analytical methods to examine quantitative indicators and trends of domestic violence against women in rural areas. Primary data was obtained via a survey. As a result, domestic violence against women in rural areas of Kazakhstan was found to be a widespread problem. Official statistics show that approximately one in 165 women experience domestic violence, but this data does not account for unreported cases due to cultural and moral barriers. The study confirmed the increased vulnerability of rural women and highlighted additional challenges such as cultural aspects, geographical remoteness, lack of crisis centres, and inadequate funding for social services. Important barriers include limited awareness of resources, fear of stigmatization, and distrust of services. Traditions and religion in Kazakh society can perpetuate violence and limit access to assistance. The analysis of the legislative framework, in particular the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Prevention of Domestic Violence”, showed that despite the existence of comprehensive measures, their implementation is hampered by various factors. The study concludes with recommendations for improving social services in rural areas and emphasises the practical significance of this research
Keywords: abuse; victim protection; support measures; non-urban areas; crisis centres
Suggested citation
[1] Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bureau of National statistics. (2023). The gender inequality index in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Retrieved from http://surl.li/fgwwoo.
[2] Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bureau of National statistics. (2022a). Incidence of violence (recorded offences) against women during past period. Retrieved from http://surl.li/ggopot.
[3] Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bureau of National statistics. (2022b). Womenʼs safety and life experience. Retrieved from https://stat.gov.kz/ru/industries/social-statistics/stat-crime/spreadsheets/.
[4] 
Aliyeva, S., & Adli, M. (2024). Evolution of the womenʼs movement in Ukraine and Europe in the 20th century: The path to gender equality. European Chronicle, 9(1), 38-46. doi: 10.59430/euch/1.2024.38.
[5] Aytenova, Sh., Nurkeeva, A., & Baysakova, Z. (2022). Estimating the costs of combating domestic violence in Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/kasachstan/20141.pdf.
[6] Benson, S.R. (2009). Failure to arrest: A pilot study of police response to domestic violence in rural Illinois. American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, 17(3), 685-703. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.1327990.
[7] Chandra, R., Srivastava, S., Singh, A., Mukherjee, S., & Patel, J.K. (2023) Locating perpetrators of violence against women in India: An analysis of married menʼs characteristics associated with intimate partner violence. PLoS ONE, 18(8), article number e0289596. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289596.
[8] DeKeseredy, W.S., & Rennison, C.M. (2020). Thinking theoretically about male violence against women in rural places: A review of the extant sociological literature and suggestions for future theorizing. International Journal of Rural Criminology, 5(2), 162-180. doi: 10.18061/1811/92032.
[9] Demographics of Kazakhstan. (2022). Retrieved from https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/country/kazakhstan-demographics.php.
[10] Dodonova, V., & Dodonov, D. (2024). Content and structure of social practices. Humanities Studios: Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, 12(1), 126-140. doi: 10.31548/hspedagog15(1).2024.126-140.
[11] Homan, C.M., Schrading, J.N., Ptucha, R.W., Cerulli, C., & Alm, C.O. (2020). Quantitative methods for analyzing intimate partner violence in microblogs. Observational Study, 22(11), article number e15347. doi: 10.2196/15347.
[12] Hunnicutt, G. (2022). Woman abuses in rural places. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 51(6), 436-441. doi: 10.1177/00943061221129660b.
[13] ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market, Opinion and Social Research and Data Analytics. (2016). Retrieved from https:// esomar.org/uploads/attachments/ckqtawvjq00uukdtrhst5sk9u-iccesomar-international-code-english.pdf.
[14] Kassa, G.M., & Abajobir, A.A. (2020). Prevalence of violence against women in Ethiopia: A meta-analysis. Trauma Violence Abuse, 21(3), 624-637. doi: 10.1177/1524838018782205.
[15] Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 214-IV “Concerning Prevention of Domestic Violence”. (2009, December). Retrieved from https://adilet.zan.kz/eng/docs/Z090000214_.
[16] Lokot, M., Pichon, M., Kalichman, B., Nardella, S., Falconer, J., Kyegombe, N., & Buller, A.M. (2024). Decolonising the field of violence against women and girls: A scoping review and recommendations for research and programming. Social Science and Medicine, 357, article number 117168. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117168.
[17] Lynch, K.R., & Logan, T.K. (2020). Implementing domestic violence gun confiscation policy in rural and urban communities: Assessing the perceived risk, benefits, and barriers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(21-22), 4913-4939. doi: 10.1177/0886260517719081.
[18] Moffitt, P., Aujla, W., Giesbrecht, C.J., Grant, I., & Straatman, A.L. (2022). Intimate partner violence and COVID-19 in rural, remote, and Northern Canada: Relationship, vulnerability and risk. Journal of Family Violence, 37, 775-786. doi: 10.1007/ s10896-020-00212-x.
[19] Musabekova, S.A., & Mkhitaryan, K.E. (2022). Forensic assessment of domestic violence in central Kazakhstan. Forensic Medicine, 1, 254-266. doi: 10.53065/kaznmu.2022.23.55.040.
[20] Nukezhanova, S., Dyussembekova, M., & Zelenin, V. (2024). Mythodesign in modern Kazakh realities state and development prospects. Comparative Sociology, 23(2), 216-239. doi: 10.1163/15691330-bja10105.
[21] Peterman, A., Potts, A., OʼDonnell, M., Thompson, K., Shah, N., Oertelt-Prigione, S., & van Gelder, N. (2020). Pandemics and violence against women and children. Washington, DC: Center for Global Development.
[22] Ricoy-Cano, A.J., Zambrano-Rodríguez, C.V., de la Fuente-Robles, Y.M., & Vásquez-Peña, G.E. (2024). Violence, abuse and neglect in older women in rural and remote areas: A scoping review and prevalence meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(4), 3037-3053. doi: 10.1177/15248380241234342.
[23] Sardinha, L., Maheu-Giroux, M., Stöckl, H., Meyer, S.R., & García-Moreno, C. (2022). Global, regional, and national prevalence estimates of physical or sexual, or both, intimate partner violence against women in 2018. Lancet, 399(10327), 803-813. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02664-7.
[24] Slakoff, D.C., Aujla, W., & PenzeyMoog, E. (2020). The role of service providers, technology, and mass media when home isnʼt safe for intimate partner violence victims: Best practices and recommendations in the era of COVID-19 and beyond. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49, 2779-2788. doi: 10.1007/s10508-020-01820-w.
[25] Spytska, L. (2023). Sexual disorders in women: Causes and their correction. Gaceta Medica de Caracas, 131(4), 933-943. doi: 10.47307/GMC.2023.131.4.15.
[26] Spytska, L. (2024). Narcissistic trauma main characteristics and life impact. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 212(5), 255-260. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001760.
[27] Straatman, A.L., Doherty, D., & Banman, V. (2020). Domestic homicides in rural communities: Challenges in accessing resources. In Preventing domestic homicides: Lessons learned from tragedies (pp. 39-61). Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978- 0-12-819463-8.00003-4.
[28] Strand, S.J.M., Selenius, H., Petersson, J., & Storey, J.E. (2021). Repeated and systematic intimate partner violence in rural areas in Sweden. International Criminology, 1, 220-233. doi: 10.1007/s43576-021-00026-x.
[29] The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 15 April 2024, No. 72-VIII “On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Ensuring Womenʼs Rights and Childrenʼs Safety”. (2024, April). Retrieved from https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=34339586&pos=1;-16#pos=1;-16.
[30] Tian, Y. (2023). Why does domestic violence against women still happen in rural areas of China? – A systemic review of previous studies on cultural factors. Communications in Humanities Research, 5, 216-221. doi: 10.54254/2753-7064/5/20230222.
[31] United Nations. (2015). Technical report by the Bureau of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) on the process of the development of an indicator framework for the goals and targets of the post-2015 development agenda. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/6754Technical%20report%20of%20the%20UNSC%20Bureau%20%28final%29.pdf.
[32] Usher, K., Bhuller, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID-19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(4), 549-552. doi: 10.1111%2Finm.12735.
[33] World Health Organization. (2021). Violence against women. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women.
[34] World Health Organization. (2022). Child maltreatment. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment.
[35] Yara, O., Golovko, L., Kapplová, O., Medvedska, V., & Funta, R. (2023). Legal regulation of the protection of women from domestic violence in Western Europe. Law. Human. Environment, 14(4), 79-91. doi: 10.31548/law/4.2023.79.
[36] Youngson, N., Saxton, M., Jaffe, P.G., Chiodo, D., Dawson, M., & Straatman, A.L. (2021). Challenges in risk assessment with rural domestic violence victims: Implications for practice. Journal of Family Violence, 36, 537-550. doi: 10.1007/s10896-021-00248-7.