Shorouk Express
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 25. During the
discussion of Kazakhstan’s fourth report at the 48th session of the
Universal Periodic Review Working Group of the UN Human Rights
Council, the international community expressed support for the
reforms being carried out in the country, Trend reports.
The 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group
of the UN Human Rights Council reviewed Kazakhstan’s fourth report
on the implementation of human rights obligations and the
recommendations from the previous review.
The Kazakh delegation, led by Minister of Justice Yerlan
Sarsembayev, presented information to the UN Human Rights Council
on a wide range of issues, focusing on the large-scale reforms of
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the field of human rights and
the rule of law, key updates to Kazakhstan’s legislation regulating
the eradication of torture and cruel treatment, peaceful assemblies
and freedom of association, ensuring the functioning of mass media,
expanding journalists’ rights, combating human trafficking, and
fighting domestic violence.
In his speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman
Vasilenko shared Kazakhstan’s experience in cooperating with the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, special procedures of the Human
Rights Council, and UN treaty bodies. In particular, the
interdepartmental mechanism for considering requests from special
rapporteurs on human rights and treaty bodies for individual
complaints established by a decree from the President of Kazakhstan
was highlighted.
During the dialogue with the Kazakh delegation, UN member states
expressed support for the measures taken to implement the ambitious
reforms and welcomed the concrete steps taken to strengthen
fundamental human rights and freedoms in Kazakhstan. Notably, the
international community highly praised the laws passed in the areas
of combating domestic violence, ensuring child safety,
strengthening the mandate of the Human Rights Commissioner and the
National Preventive Mechanism, and social protection of the
population, particularly the most vulnerable groups.
Additionally, the abolition of the death penalty, the adoption
of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Action Plan on December 8,
2023, and Kazakhstan’s contribution to the work of the UN Human
Rights Council during its membership in 2022-2024 were particularly
noted by states.
To note, the report of the Universal Periodic Review Working
Group on Kazakhstan, with recommendations from UN member states,
will be approved by the Human Rights Council at its 59th session in
June 2025.
