Empowering civil society in Kazakhstan
UPR Info’s team has led activities in Kazakhstan throughout the year 2024.
One of the first steps has been to engage with civil society organizations, in Almaty, which included a workshop on how to engage effectively within the UPR mechanism. Later in the year, UPR Info went back to the country in order to focus on strengthening the advocacy capacity of the CSOs, how to prepare for the pre-sessions both in-country and in Geneva.
Kazakhstan will undertake its 4th review on January 23rd, 2025 and therefore UPR Info’s activities aim at preparing for the best several stakeholders from civil society. After the workshop that led to the production of statements that included recommendations for Recommending States to take upon and 18 advocacy factsheets, with development of advocacy strategies, to engage with the diplomatic community, UPR Info held a national pre-session.
The format is the same than the one in Geneva, excepts that it engages more with civil society on the ground and allows a closer connection between stakeholders in-country in order to increase capacities and better communication and follow-up. During the national pre-session held in Astana, 12 different organizations made their statement in front of 19 representatives from the diplomatic community. This event has been held in partnership with the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, and took place in their premices. This event has been followed by an informal cocktail in order to provide a space for stakeholders to engage at a different level.
