Gender equality agenda in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is progressing towards gender equality according to the international indicators used for measuring the progress and comparing results across the UN member states. Kazakhstan ranks 50^th out of 189 countries according to 2019 Human Development Report, which puts the country in a very high human development category. It also ranks high overall in key gender and development indicators, with 0,795 Gender Development Index (GDI) for women compared to 0,790 for men, indicating a high level of equality between women and men (cumulative GDI of 1.006). In addition, over the past several years, Kazakhstan has steadily reduced its Gender Inequality Index value from 0.405 in 2000 to 0.197 in 2017 bringing it lower than the average score for Europe and Central Asia Countries (0.279). The Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), devised by the World Economic Forum, is another cross-country comparison of gender equality, assessing the following key categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In 2020, Kazakhstan received a score of 0.710, resulting in a ranking of 72 out of 153 countries.

Kazakhstan has ratified key conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1998, Beijing +25, Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CPRW), Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (CNMW), Agenda-2030 and others. The country has also developed proper policy and legal frameworks guaranteeing rights, legal support, action plans, and programs dedicated to advancing and promoting gender equality as a national goal S(e.g. Strategy on Gender Equality 2006 – 2016, Concept on Family and Gender Policy 2030).

This framework reaffirms the government’s focus on key gender gaps in women’s political representation, labour force participation, career advancement, and work–family balance, as well as its commitment to combating violence against women.

The country’s gender agenda is implemented by the the National Commission for Women’s Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy, an advisory body to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which plays a leading role in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of National Gender Strategy and providing expert advice to the other public bodies on issues related to gender equality.

Key Statistics for Kazakhstan:

• Women who comprise the majority of civil servants are underrepresented at higher-level decision-making positions. Representation of women in the Parliament is low: Majilis (Lower Chamber) – 27.4 percent (2018), Senate – 10.2 percent (2018).
• Women continue to participate in labour markets on an unequal basis with men. In 2018, female employment-to-population ratio stood at 64.8 percent.
• Women are paid less than men, earning on average 68.6 percent of men’s wages (2018).
• 42.2 percent of all SMEs are led by women.
• According to the survey on prevalence of domestic violence against women in Kazakhstan, 17 % of ever-partnered women aged 18-75 experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and 21 % (1 in 5) experienced psychological abuse in their lifetime.
• In 2018, 60 percent of all registered referrals to crisis centres were related to violence against women.

 Please also check the Gender Profile of SDGs in Kazakhstan.