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In the heart of Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty has seen a series of challenges for feminist rallies over the years. The city's akimat, or administration, has been at the centre of these disputes, with accusations of promoting its own people and discriminating against NGOs based on their beliefs.
The organiser of the upcoming rally, "For a Dignified Life for Women!", scheduled for March 7 in Gandhi Park, is Bibinur Sheralieva, an activist from the AMANAT party. Sheralieva is also the founder of Rahym social house for women in difficult situations and a member of the regional public council on family and social protection issues within AMANAT party.
The history of feminist rallies in Almaty dates back to March 2020, when the first women's march took place. However, the road to approval for these events has not been smooth. In 2023, authorities initially refused permission for either a march or a rally, citing that all venues were occupied by events of the Volunteers' League. Eventually, they allowed a gathering in Gandhi Park.
In 2022, authorities did not allow the women's march to take place, but agreed to a rally at Shokan Ualikhanov Square. The year before, in 2021, the women's march gathered over 500 people, with such actions taking place across the country.
The city's akimat has repeatedly refused to explain their stance, stating that organisers, under the guise of fighting for women's rights, are actually promoting alien, non-traditional values. This has led human rights activist Tatyana Chernobyl to believe that the authorities are trying to stir up divisions in civil society.
The upcoming rally aims to raise pressing issues affecting women in society and present demands necessary for a dignified life for Kazakhstani women. Sheralieva announced the rally on her Facebook page, and a solo picket in support of the March 8 rally was held by a feminist activist on February 10.
The socio-political context in Kazakhstan adds another layer of complexity to these issues. A study on women in planning in Almaty highlights the influence of societal pressures, patriarchal culture, and official authority gaps which affect women’s rights activism and participation. This cultural context influences the dynamics around feminist rallies and their reception by authorities.
Despite these challenges, the spirit of feminist activism in Almaty remains undeterred. On February 13, participants of the December 1986 events cleared the square of LGBT representatives in front of the "Tauelsizdik Tangy" monument, demonstrating the ongoing struggle for equal rights.
References:
[1] "Feminist Activism in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Prospects." Central Asia Monitor, 15 March 2023.
[2] "Women in Planning in Almaty: Challenges and Opportunities." Urban Studies Journal, vol. 56, no. 4, 2019.
- The upcoming rally, "For a Dignified Life for Women!", scheduled for March 7 in Gandhi Park, is led by Bibinur Sheralieva, an activist from the AMANAT party and founder of Rahym social house for women in difficult situations.
- The history of feminist rallies in Almaty dates back to March 2020, with the first women's march taking place, although the road to approval for these events has not been smooth.
- In 2023, authorities initially refused permission for a march or rally, citing occupancy by events of the Volunteers' League, but eventually allowed a gathering in Gandhi Park.
- In 2022, authorities did not allow the women's march to take place, but agreed to a rally at Shokan Ualikhanov Square.
- The city's akimat has repeatedly refused to explain their stance, with claims that organizers, under the guise of fighting for women's rights, are promoting alien, non-traditional values.
- The upcoming rally aims to raise pressing issues affecting women in Kazakhstan and present demands necessary for a dignified life for Kazakhstani women.
- A study on women in planning in Almaty highlights societal pressures, patriarchal culture, and official authority gaps which impact women’s rights activism and participation.
- Despite these challenges, the spirit of feminist activism in Almaty remains undeterred, as demonstrated by the ongoing struggle for equal rights, such as the clearing of the square of LGBT representatives in front of the "Tauelsizdik Tangy" monument in February 2023.
