Safety issues discussed and "Shoes that don't walk" installation opened at Al-Farabi KazNU

Within the framework of the international campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence," a dialogue platform "Stalking: How to Build Defense" was held at the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science at al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The event was organized by the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of al-Farabi Kazakh National University, in collaboration with the "Zhan-Saya" Crisis Center of the Almaty City Administration.

The aim of the event was to raise awareness among youth about the problem of obsessive stalking, clarify new legislative norms, and teach methods for protecting personal boundaries. Representatives of law enforcement agencies, psychologists, lawyers, faculty members, and students participated in the dialogue. A key topic of discussion was the recent changes in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the event, it was noted that on July 16, 2025, the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Optimizing Criminal Legislation," which introduced a new Article 115-1 "Stalking" into the Criminal Law.

During the discussion, psychologists Madina Magauya and Bostan Kasimova presented an expert analysis of the behavioral patterns of stalkers. The specialists emphasized that stalking is a form of violence aimed at establishing total control over an individual. Lawyer Gulshara Saparova provided practical recommendations on legal protection and spoke about the work of Hotline 150.

An important part of the event was the visualization of the problem through the social installation "Shoes That Don't Walk." The exposition, displayed in the faculty hall, represents a composition of women's shoes symbolizing the interrupted lives of victims of femicide and domestic violence. This project is intended to draw attention to the latent threats posed by ignoring the problem at early stages. A social installation symbolizing the cut-short lives of violence victims was presented in the lobby of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The exposition consists of pairs of women's footwear- from slippers to high heels. Behind every pair stands the story of a woman who died at the hands of an aggressor.

This event was implemented as part of the university's systemic work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically aiming at the realization of SDG No. 3 "Good Health and Well-being," SDG No. 5 "Gender Equality," and SDG No. 16 "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions."

The moderators of the dialogue platform were: A. Shabdenova- PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of al-Farabi Kazakh National University and D. Aryn- Deputy Head of the Department for Scientific-Innovation Work and International Relations, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Faculty members and students took active part in discussions on issues of personal safety, legal culture, and violence prevention.