Latency of domestic violence in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the present stage
The article is devoted to the problem of domestic violence and its latency in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the analysis of the conducted sociological research the authors revealed the reasons why the victims of domestic violence are afraid to apply to the law enforcement authorities and proposed measures for obtaining true information about the real extent of domestic violence. Violence is a serious problem in society as it has very dangerous consequences, both for the physical and psychological state of the victims. Recently, there has been an increase in domestic violence. The victims of domestic violence are women, children, the elderly and the disabled, the most defenceless categories of citizens. In order to study problems of domestic violence and to identify its causes and extent of its latency a sociological survey was carried out in September 2020 which involved 642 people from 3 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Zhambyl, Turkestan, Almaty) and 3 cities of national importance (Nur-Sultan, Alma-Ata, Shymkent). Of those surveyed, 84 per cent were female and 16 per cent male. The survey revealed the extent of domestic violence. According to the findings of the survey, 85 per cent of the population surveyed reported domestic violence. More than a half identified physical violence as the main form of violence, 40% identified moral and psychological violence, and 10% identified economic violence in families. Reasons for the latency of violence include the well-established mentality in Kazakhstan, which dictates its own rules of behaviour, the rules of morality and ethics that prevail in society, and the persistence of patriarchal attitudes in the family. Another objective of the survey was to determine what measures people thought would be more effective in preventing domestic violence. Most respondents noted a need for toughening of legislation on domestic violence, introducing a separate crime in criminal legislation (51.9%), holding preventive talks in families (40.7%), establishing crisis centres and shelters for victims of domestic violence (33.3%). In general, it is noted that in order to obtain true information about the real extent of domestic violence and to reduce its latency, all measures should be divided into three main directions, depending on the type of latency to be affected. The first is to minimise the latency of all crime. Secondly, measures should be taken to reduce natural latency. Thirdly, measures should be taken to reduce man-made crime. Citizens' trust and cooperation with law enforcement agencies should be increased. On this basis, further study and research is required to provide the rationale and evidence for identifying the latency of violent offences.