Kazakhstan’s next steps in the UPR implementation phase
Following Kazakhstan’s 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR), held in January 2025, national actors entered a crucial phase: transforming recommendations into tangible progress through implementation and monitoring efforts.
In this context, UPR Info remains committed to supporting national actors by emphasizing the importance of their role, providing methodological guidance, and capacity-building opportunities to strengthen monitoring and implementation mechanisms.
To this end, and in partnership with the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR), UPR Info organized a series of capacity-building activities in October 2025 aimed at equipping government representatives and civil society organizations with the knowledge and resources needed to effectively monitor and advance the implementation of UPR recommendations.
Government’s efforts in UPR follow-up
On 22 October 2025, a one-day workshop was held in Astana, bringing together 24 representatives from various ministries and government bodies to discuss the use of indicators for monitoring the implementation of UPR recommendations. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Communication and Information, General Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Supreme Court.
Ms. Bogatoz Zhakselekova, Vice-Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted ongoing government efforts to develop a national set of human rights indicators across six thematic areas: fair litigation, affordable housing, torture prevention, participation in governance, prevention of violence against women, and the right to education.
The event also featured the participation of the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, which recalled the main human rights themes raised in Kazakhstan’s UPR since the beginning of the mechanism. The Office emphasized key priorities such as freedom of peaceful assembly, protection of women and girls from gender-based and domestic violence, and combating all forms of torture — areas where OHCHR continues to provide support. During the workshop, UPR Info shared technical inputs and good practices for implementing UPR recommendations, underlining the importance of establishing reliable focal points within ministries to ensure effective coordination and monitoring.
“... the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia stands ready to support Kazakhstan in the effective implementation of its UPR commitments, including through technical assistance, capacity building and expert advice. We are ready to help ensure that the UPR recommendations lead to concrete improvements in the protection and promotion of human rights”, said Matilda Bogner, OHCHR’s Regional Representative.
Discussions also focused on developing a National Mechanism for Reporting, Implementation, and Follow-up (NMIRF), supported by adequate planning and budgeting. Participants expressed particular interest in creating a national database to track implementation progress, drawing on successful examples from other countries.
CSOs in action
From Astana to Almaty, UPR Info’s team continued its mission to strengthen national engagement in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. In partnership with the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR), a two-day workshop was held in Almaty, bringing together 21 representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) working across diverse human rights issues.
Throughout the workshop, participants collaborated in four thematic clusters : civil and political rights, women, gender-based violence, and children’s rights, detention and torture and LGBTQIA+ Rights. Each group identified priority recommendations and formulated concrete action plans to guide their implementation.
By the end of the two days, participants had designed action strategies for 22 UPR recommendations, linking them to relevant guidance from other UN human rights mechanisms. Their work reflected strong ownership of the follow-up process and a shared commitment to advancing human rights implementation in Kazakhstan.
The workshop also served as a platform to exchange good practices and strengthen coordination among NGOs. Participants agreed to pursue joint follow-up initiatives, including coordinated monitoring of UPR developments, dissemination of outcomes through NGO networks, and public awareness campaigns to promote Kazakhstan’s human rights commitments.
Looking Ahead
These initiatives reflect growing collaboration between government institutions and civil society in Kazakhstan’s efforts to implement UPR recommendations. The workshops marked an important step toward ensuring that international human rights commitments translate into tangible, measurable progress at the national level.