Norwegian Helsinki Committee Positively Assesses Kazakhstan’s New Constitution

Astana, 4 June 2026 – Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alua Nadirkulova held a meeting with Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Berit Nising Lindeman.

During the meeting, Ambassador-at-Large Nadirkulova briefed her counterpart on the implementation of Kazakhstan’s constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening the protection of human rights and freedoms. She noted that the Constitution clarifies provisions related to the right to work and the right to peaceful assembly, strengthens guarantees of judicial protection and the inviolability of the home, and for the first time enshrines the protection of personal data.

Particular attention was paid to the reform of Kazakhstan’s penitentiary system. It was noted that Kazakhstan is currently developing the Concept for the Further Development of the Penal Enforcement System for 2026–2030.

For her part, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Lindeman expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan’s support of the Committee’s Regional Representative Office in Almaty and highly praised Kazakhstan’s achievements in penitentiary reform, torture prevention, gender equality, and the protection of women’s rights. She particularly noted the active role of civil society in the country.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties expressed their interest in further developing cooperation and maintaining a constructive dialogue on the rule of law, human rights protection, and support for ongoing reforms in Kazakhstan.