Key Facts
• On September 16, 2025, Kazakhstan enacted a law banning forced marriages.
• Bride kidnapping, a traditional practice, is now illegal under the new law.
• Offenders of forced marriage face up to 10 years in prison.
• Prior to the law, perpetrators could avoid charges by releasing victims voluntarily.
• Over the past three years, 214 forced marriage cases were reported to police.
• Reliable national statistics on forced marriages were previously unavailable.
• Neighboring Kyrgyzstan also faces similar issues but lacks effective enforcement.
• Women’s rights gained attention after a 2023 case where a former minister killed his wife.
• President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev condemned the use of tradition to justify bride kidnapping.
Summary
Kazakhstan has implemented a law prohibiting forced marriages and bride kidnapping, addressing long-standing practices that violate women’s rights. The law, effective September 16, 2025, imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for offenders. Previously, perpetrators could evade responsibility by releasing victims voluntarily. Over three years, 214 cases of forced marriage were reported, though comprehensive national data was unavailable. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan faces similar challenges but struggles with enforcement. Women’s rights in Kazakhstan gained prominence after a 2023 case involving a former minister’s murder of his wife, sparking public outrage. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has strongly opposed using tradition to justify such practices.
