Family Policy as the Foundation of Quality of Life and Sustainable Development

The socio-political newspaper Egemen Qazaqstan published an interview with Gulmira Kanai on August 25, Vice President of Nazarbayev University and a member of the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The interview focuses on family policy, family well-being and the quality of life of citizens.

Gulmira Kanai spoke in detail about the role of the National Commission in shaping state policy in the areas of family, women and demography. Among the practical results of its work, she highlighted participation in improving legislation, studying the situation in the regions, developing recommendations on child safety, and launching the One Stop Service project, which provides comprehensive legal and psychological assistance to victims of violence.

Particular attention in the interview is given to women’s economic independence. According to Gulmira Kanai, the key issue is not simply women’s employment, but their access to stable and well-paid jobs. Key priorities include supporting women’s entrepreneurship, expanding opportunities for professional retraining, improving financial and digital literacy, and creating greater economic opportunities for women in rural areas.

Speaking about demographic policy, Gulmira Kanai emphasized that its effectiveness should not be assessed solely through fertility rates. Equally important are the conditions in which children grow up and families live, including access to quality healthcare and education, housing, stable incomes and a safe environment. In this context, assessing the quality of life of families and taking regional differences into account is particularly important.

Another important topic addressed in the interview is the prevention of domestic violence. Gulmira Kanai stressed that legislative measures alone are not sufficient without changes in public attitudes and social norms. Systematic work should begin in childhood by fostering a culture of respect, understanding of personal boundaries, non-violent conflict resolution and responsible parenting. At the same time, men should be more actively involved in violence prevention by promoting a culture of paternal responsibility and equal partnership within the family.

The interview also addressed new opportunities for cooperation between the National Commission and the Institute of the Commissioner for Family Affairs. According to Gulmira Kanai, such a mechanism could make it possible to communicate specific concerns raised by citizens more effectively to government bodies while also transforming individual appeals into systemic public policy solutions.

Gulmira Kanai also highlighted the importance of public participation in shaping family policy. In her view, decision-making should take into account the voices of rural women, large and single-parent families, parents of children with disabilities, young people and women entrepreneurs. At the same time, effective feedback is essential: citizens should see not only that their views have been heard, but also what specific changes have resulted from their proposals.

Concluding the conversation, Gulmira Kanai emphasized the importance of a science-based approach to public policy. In her view, research should go beyond collecting reliable data and identifying the causes of problems to include testing solutions, independently evaluating their results and scaling up effective practices. Such an approach makes it possible to develop policies based on both scientific evidence and the lived experiences of families.

The interview in Egemen Qazaqstan offers a comprehensive perspective on current challenges in family, gender and demographic policy — from women’s economic opportunities and family support to violence prevention, public participation and the development of evidence-based policy solutions.