Dialogue Platform on Human Dimension under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Discusses Gender Equality, Previous Recommendations, Interim Results of Consultative and Advisory Body’s Work

 

Nur-Sultan, 22 October 2021 – Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a snap online meeting of the Consultative and Advisory Body Dialogue Platform on the Human Dimension, chaired by Ambassador-at-Large Usen Suleimen.

The agenda included discussion of three areas in the field of human rights protection: empowerment of women and girls, analysis of the Consultative and Advisory Body’s recommendations for the period 2013-21, interim results of the Consultative and Advisory body’s work on the implementation of the Plan of Priority Measures in the Field of Human Rights until the end of 2021.

Among the documents submitted by the civil sector, the analytical report Recommendations of the UN Women for the elaboration of updates to the Concept of Family and Gender Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030 developed by the body’s national office was particularly noted.

The Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law presented its reports on the analysis of the recommendations of the Consultative and Advisory Body since 2013, as well as their evaluation of the interim results of the body’s work on the implementation of the Plan of Priority Measures in the Field of Human Rights until the end of 2021.

The participants noted that intensive work is being carried out in a number of areas within the framework of a dialogue between responsible state bodies, civil society organizations and experts. In particular, on measures on the prevention and suppression of human trafficking, especially women and children, and the elaboration of aspects of combating torture, cruel or degrading treatment and punishment, on amendments and additions to criminal procedure and penal enforcement legislation.

Discussions on each agenda item were open and constructive in nature with the development of concrete proposals for further interaction between government agencies and NGOs on these issues.

The event was attended by Members of Parliament of Kazakhstan, the country’s Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Council, interested ministries, Kazakh human rights NGOs, as well as international partners including the UN Development Program, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), OSCE, the European Union, and USAID.