Two tragedies – the death of 20-year-old Dilnaz Zhumagulova in the Abai region and the murder of Zhazira Adauvova in Astana – have once again raised the question of whether the threat of domestic violence can be detected before it is too late. Deputies of the Kurultai propose launching a pilot project called "Electronic Protection Zone," obliging police to act according to a unified algorithm, and to digitally record every signal of danger and the response to it.

Aizhan Aimanova, a deputy of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a member of the "Adilet" party faction, proposed launching a pilot project called "Electronic Protection Zone" in selected regions, which would allow for the timely detection of threats of violence and the tracking of police response to incoming signals. She addressed this initiative to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Yerzhan Sadenov.

In her parliamentary inquiry, Aizhan Aimanova raised the question of the extent to which existing mechanisms for protecting women and children allow for the prevention of violence before it leads to tragic consequences.

– The Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, pays special attention to the prevention of domestic violence and has instructed the Government to take concrete measures, – the inquiry states.

The deputy emphasized that the task of preventing violence is also reflected in the "Adilet" party's program. According to her, in recent years important measures have been taken in the country to protect women and children – liability for violence has been strengthened and prevention mechanisms have been expanded. However, tragic incidents continue.

Two cases are cited as examples in the inquiry. On July 13, in the Abai region, 20-year-old Dilnaz Zhumagulova died from numerous knife wounds. On September 23, in Astana, Zhazira Adauvova's ex-husband killed her; she was a mother of two children.

– In this regard, an important question arises: to what extent do existing protection mechanisms allow not merely reacting to acts of violence that have already been committed, but also identifying danger in advance and preventing it? – noted Aizhan Aimanova.

According to the deputy, creating a new expensive information system is not necessary for earlier detection of threats. This is because, according to her, Kazakhstan already has preventive registration and electronic monitoring mechanisms that, as noted in the inquiry, can be used to prevent dangerous situations.

– We have the necessary legal and digital capabilities for this. Now the task is to effectively use these capabilities, timely identify threats, and protect people's lives and safety, – the parliamentary inquiry states.

Aizhan Aimanova also referred to foreign experience, noting that similar practices are used in other countries, including France.

The deputy proposed developing and testing a pilot project called "Electronic Protection Zone" in selected regions.

The second proposal concerns police actions after a threat signal is received. Aizhan Aimanova considers it necessary to approve a unified mandatory algorithm that will define the procedure for law enforcement officers' response.

The third measure provides for automatic digital registration of every signal and the measures taken in response to it. According to the deputy, such a procedure will make it possible to establish which employees, when, and what actions they took after receiving information about a threat.

Thus, the proposed initiative provides for both the recording of incoming information and the digital tracking of subsequent actions.

– To implement the principle of "Law and Order," it is necessary to use existing legal and digital capabilities, timely identify dangerous situations, and prevent them, – added Aizhan Aimanova.

 

Linarа SAKTAGANOVA
Astana