Opening ceremony of the exhibition "Ordinary Things" organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, together with the UN Office in Geneva, the Canadian Embassy in Kazakhstan, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan and UN Women was held at the Palais des Nations, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.

Ordinary things

During the event held as part of Kazakhstan's membership in the UN Human Rights Council and calling to action to combat domestic violence, Mr. Yerlan Alimbaev, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan, Mrs. Tatyana Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva, Ms. Elvira Azimova, Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan, Ms. Leslie E. Norton, Permanent Representative of Canada, Ms. Monica Ferro, Director of the UNFPA Office in Geneva and Ms. Adriana Quiñones, Director of the UN Women Liaison Office in Geneva delivered their remarks.

Domestic violence is one of the most common forms of violence experienced by women around the world. According to UN Women, one in three women are subjected to sexual or physical violence at least once in their lives; and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of such cases has increased.

According to the updated Concept of Family and Gender Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030, the Government aims to reduce violence against women and children by 50% by 2030.

For the first time, this exhibition was held in Nur-Sultan as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. It was organized by the Embassy of Canada, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, UNFPA, UN Women and STEPPE online publication with the support of the Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.