Astana, 20 November 2025 - On World Children’s Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a dialogue with children and youth representatives as part of the conference “Kazakhstan, Friendly to Children!”. The event brought together activists from children’s, youth, and volunteer organisations to discuss the role of young people in shaping a child-friendly society grounded in international human rights standards.

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Opening the conference, Ambassador-at-Large Alua Nadirkulova recalled that on 20 November 1989 the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted, establishing a global moral and legal framework for the protection of children’s rights. She noted that Kazakhstan was among the first countries to support the Convention and continues to strengthen its principles through national policies and international engagement.

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                   Childhood as a National and International Priority

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Speakers emphasized that for Kazakhstan, the protection of children’s rights is not only a domestic priority but also an integral part of the country’s foreign policy agenda. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively promotes child rights through cooperation with the United Nations, UNICEF, the UN Human Rights Council, and other international partners.

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Kazakhstan’s experience in advancing child protection policies is increasingly recognised at the regional and international levels. The country regularly contributes to global discussions, shares best practices, and demonstrates a strong commitment to fulfilling its international obligations in the field of child rights.

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                                                          International Expertise and Institutional Dialogue

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Participants were also welcomed by Ramiz Behbudov, Acting Deputy Head of the UNICEF Office in Kazakhstan, who highlighted UNICEF’s long-standing partnership with the country. Under UNICEF’s leadership, numerous initiatives, studies, and programmes have supported evidence-based policymaking and the implementation of international standards in child protection.

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A special address was delivered by Renate Winter, Honorary President of the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) and former Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Drawing on her extensive experience in juvenile justice and legal reform, she underlined the importance of child-friendly justice systems and meaningful participation of children in decision-making processes.

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Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Magerram Mageramov highlighted Kazakhstan’s inclusive approach to engaging young people in public dialogue and social life.

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International and national experts - including Pauline McCabe, former Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and Deputy Chair of the CDJI Board, and Marat Kogamov, Doctor of Law and Professor - shared insights on key international standards for protecting children in conflict with the law.

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Judges, lawyers, and mediators Gulnar Abdygalieva, Leila Zinasheva, Zhanargul Alpyspaeva, Ira Zhaskairat, and Ilvira Nazyrova presented practical experiences in safeguarding the rights of minors, stressing the importance of child-sensitive procedures and interdisciplinary cooperation.

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                                                                                    Children at the Centre

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Central to the conference were the voices of children themselves. School students, youth activists, and volunteers shared their perspectives on the role of children’s organisations in society, called for greater trust from adults, and presented their ideas for building a truly child-friendly Kazakhstan - one where children’s rights, voices, and aspirations are respected and protected.

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The conference was initiated by the “Bakytty Bala” Public Foundation, the Institute “Science and Law”, and Centre for Development and Justice International, organisations that have long been working to advance children’s rights in line with international standards and to strengthen cooperation between state institutions and civil society.