Conference Dedicated to World Children’s Day Took Place at the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan, DKNews.kz reports.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a conference titled “Kazakhstan – a country where childhood is protected!” dedicated to World Children’s Day.
The event brought together Members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations, children’s and youth associations, volunteer movements, as well as representatives of the UNICEF Office in Kazakhstan.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alua Nadirkulova noted that on November 20, 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted – a document that has become a moral and legal benchmark for the global community. Kazakhstan was among the first to support this international standard and has continued to systematically strengthen mechanisms for the protection of children’s rights.
She emphasized that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pays special attention to child protection issues. In particular, in 2024, the National Fund for the Development of Children was established. Under this initiative, 50% of the investment income is directed annually to special savings accounts for children until they reach the age of 18.
At the same time, Kazakhstan not only continues to strengthen its national child protection mechanisms but also reaffirms its commitment to international obligations in this field. The country initiated the Human Rights Council resolution “Ensuring Quality Education for Peace and Tolerance for Every Child,” which was adopted unanimously by the UN Human Rights Council.
Acting Deputy Head of the UNICEF Office in Kazakhstan, Ramiz Bekhbudov, highlighted the long-standing partnership between Kazakhstan and UNICEF in promoting child rights. Under the leadership of the UNICEF Office, dozens of initiatives, research projects, and programs have been implemented in the country to identify the real needs of children and develop solutions based on international standards and best practices.
The conference also featured a welcome address from Renate Winter, Honorary President of the Center for Development and Justice (CDJI) and former Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She emphasized Kazakhstan’s contribution to the development of child-friendly justice and post-conflict child protection programs.
Judges, lawyers, and mediators – Gulnar Abdigaliyeva, Leila Zinashyeva, Zhanargul Alpysbayeva, Ira Zhaskairat, and Ilvira Nazyrova – shared their practical experience in the field of juvenile justice, emphasizing the need to further strengthen child protection mechanisms within the judicial system.
Special attention at the conference was given to the voice of children. Students from Astana’s educational institutions, activists of children’s and youth organizations, and volunteer movements shared their views on the role of children’s organizations in society, urged adults not to be afraid to trust young people, and offered their ideas for building a truly child-friendly country – one where their rights, voices, and dreams matter.
Special appreciation was expressed to the “Baqytty Bala” Public Foundation and the Institute “Science and Law”. These organizations have carried out systematic work for many years to promote children’s rights and develop legal culture in the country.
Overall, the discussion took place in an open and constructive format. The organizers stressed that the voices of children were heard, and the outcomes of the conference would contribute to further improving Kazakhstan’s public policy in the field of child rights protection.
