The Chairperson of the Constitutional Court met with the UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan

Chairperson of the Constitutional Court Ms. Elvira Azimova held a meeting with the new newly appointed United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Kazakhstan Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar and the UNICEF Child Protection Officer Ms. Aislu Bekmussa.

During the meeting Ms.Elvira Azimova emphasized that protection of children, their lives and rights is an important direction of State policy, including the field of justice. She outlined that within the framework of constitutional proceedings, judges consider the obligations assumed for the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of children, first of all, enshrined in the UN Convention on Rights of a Child (UNCRC).

Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar for his side have mentioned that 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s ratification of the the UN Convention on Rights of a Child, which once again confirms serious commitment of the State to its obligations.

Ms.Elvira Azimova familiarised the guests on the final decision adopted by the Constitutional Court on the unconstitutionality of the requirement for potential adoptive parents to submit an opinion on the results of molecular genetic examination before the start of court proceedings on adoption. At present, the revealed contradiction with the Constitution has been eliminated in order to achieve the best protection of the interests of the child directly by the court.

In addition, the Chairperson also informed about the appeals of citizens to verify the compliance with the Constitution of a number of provisions of legislation on marriage and family, in especially the issues of determining the amount of alimony and adoption, which are under consideration by the Constitutional Court.

At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to hold a number of joint activities to raise children's awareness of the provisions of the Basic Law of Kazakhstan, as well as expert support in order to consolidate sustainable knowledge of law enforcement practice in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Member States and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.