Rapid Scoping Review 2025: Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, social tensions between the Soviet legacy and the country’s identity as an independent nation perpetuate deep-seated homophobia. Despite the decriminalisation of consensual same-sex conduct in 1998, individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and more (LGBT+) continue to face fear and abuse, leading them to conceal their identities. For this brief, six organisations were analysed in some detail, with additional insights drawn from a broader examination of smaller groups and individuals engaged in countering rollback.