POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS central ASIA of domestic violence, and also a public discussion on the legislative mechanisms regulating the police’s work in combating domestic violence. In total, 411 community police officers40 discussed best practice in preventing and addressing domestic violence. From 29 to 30 October, in co-operation with the Regional Hub for Countering Global Threats under the GPO Law Enforcement Academy, the Office supported a training seminar on countering domestic violence in Nur-Sultan. In total, 19 prosecutors learned about the factors and mechanisms for preventing domestic violence. From 25 to 27 November, in co-operation with the CSO Don’t Be Silent/Speak Up, UN Women, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), UNDP, National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and the regional administration of Taldykorgan city, the Office organized an international conference in Taldykorgan on the “Preventing and tackling of violence against women and girls”. Some 5,300 participants from central and local government, law enforcement agencies, health and education sectors, civil society, international organizations as well as experts from Russia, Ukraine and UK participated in the event. Participants discussed best practice in the prevention of gender-based violence and protection of victims, measures adopted in tackling violence against women and girls, and the inter-agency responses to domestic violence. As a result of these discussions, a series of recommendations were drafted on the effective prevention and response to violence against women and girls, which were submitted to the authorities for consideration. On 29 November, on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, in co-operation with the UK Embassy and UN Women in Kazakhstan, the Office supported a working breakfast in Nur-Sultan. The event took place within the framework of the “16 Days of Activism against Genderbased Violence”, bringing together 40 experts, women’s rights activists, lawyers, and civil society representatives. During the event, participants paid tribute to all women who were committed to defending human rights and in promoting equality in all spheres of public life. The event also discussed the latest developments in gender-based violence, effective measures in addressing violence against women and girls, and issues concerning inter-agency responses to domestic violence. 40 Hate Crime On 29 May, in co-operation with the International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Adil Soz, the Dutch Embassy and Open Society Foundation Kazakhstan, the Office organized a presentation in Nur-Sultan of an expert study on the legal overview of hate speech and how to improve this legal framework. National experts, lawyers and representatives of civil society and academia were among the 35 participants who discussed examples of legal proceedings related to incitement based on ethnic, social or religious reasons, practical cases of analysing hate speech in the media as well as ways to promote the principle of freedom of expression. On 28 and 29 August, the Office supported the participation of two national CSO representatives in a workshop on hate crime for CSO representatives in Warsaw. During September and October, in co-operation with the CSO Legal Media Centre, the Office organized two seminars in Semey and Atyrau on protecting freedom of expression and policies to counter hate speech on the Internet. During the events, some 46 journalists and representatives of civil society discussed the relationship between media and hate speech policies as well as ways of enhancing co-operation between government, civil society and media. Together with experts from Kazakhstan, participants examined several electronic resources and print media examples to analyse the vocabulary used by journalists. The events aimed to better equip the media with the relevant tools to counter hate speech in the media and online, including mechanisms to reduce the potential harm from a malicious Internet environment and destructive behaviour, such as ‘trolling’, cyber-bullying, and hate speech. On 18 October, the Office supported a seminar in Atyrau on the protection of freedom of expression and policies to counter hate speech on the Internet. The event was coorganized with the CSO Legal Media Centre for 23 journalists and representatives from civil society who discussed the relationship between media and hate speech policies as well as ways of enhancing co-operation between government, civil society and the media. Together with national experts from Kazakhstan, participants also examined a number of electronic resources and print media examples to analyse the vocabulary used by journalists. The event aimed to provide journalists with the tools to counter hate speech in the media and on the Internet, including mechanisms to reduce the potential harm from a malicious Internet environment and destructive behaviour such as, ‘trolling’, cyber-bullying, and hate speech. 151 in the Zhambyl, 122 in Atyrau and 138 in Aktobe region. 121