Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its role in the global humanitarian agenda. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Ashikbayev met with Biljana Milosevic, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Regional Delegation for Central Asia, to discuss cooperation that goes far beyond formal protocol, DKNews.kz reports.
At a time when armed conflicts are becoming more complex and humanitarian norms are increasingly tested, the conversation focused on how international humanitarian law can be protected not just in theory, but in practice.
Recognition of Kazakhstan’s role
Biljana Milosevic expressed gratitude for Kazakhstan’s consistent support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. She highly praised the country’s active role in promoting the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
According to her, Kazakhstan has shown strong leadership in defending the values of humanism, advancing the sustainable development goals, and contributing to international peace and security on both regional and global platforms.
A clear position from Astana
Yerzhan Ashikbayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to close cooperation with the ICRC and its readiness to continue supporting global efforts aimed at ensuring full respect for international humanitarian law.
The emphasis, he noted, should be on strengthening collective ethical and legal responsibility. In other words, humanitarian principles must work on the ground, protecting civilians, medical personnel and humanitarian workers even in the most difficult conflict situations.
What comes next
The meeting also focused on concrete next steps within the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law. Special attention was given to preparations for the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War, scheduled to take place in Amman, Jordan, at the end of 2026.
This conference is expected to become a key international platform for discussing how humanitarian norms can be upheld in modern conflicts shaped by new technologies and evolving security challenges.
Long-term cooperation, not one-off dialogue
Both sides confirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening long-term cooperation between Kazakhstan and the ICRC at global, regional and national levels.
The ICRC has been active in Central Asia since 1992, with its regional office based in Tashkent. In 2019, the organization opened its mission office in Astana, underscoring the strategic importance of cooperation with Kazakhstan.
Why this matters now
The Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law was launched in September 2024 on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Kazakhstan joined Brazil, Jordan, China, France and South Africa in launching the initiative together with the ICRC.
For Kazakhstan, participation in such initiatives is not only about international reputation. It reflects an effort to influence how humanitarian principles are preserved at a time when conflicts are escalating and the protection of civilians is becoming one of the most urgent global challenges.
