A side event for international organisations and the expert community was held on the sidelines of the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, where Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan Artur Lastayev outlined the key elements of the new Constitution and their implications for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In his remarks, the Ombudsman highlighted the broad public participation that shaped the new Constitution, bringing together representatives of different social groups, regions and professional communities. The Constitutional Commission considered more than 10,000 proposals submitted by citizens. The resulting changes affected 77 articles, representing 84% of the Constitution.
The new Constitution places the individual, human life, rights and freedoms at the heart of the constitutional framework. Key safeguards include the right to life, personal liberty and a fair trial, the prohibition of the death penalty, protection of personal data, freedom of expression and creative freedom, as well as judicial protection against unlawful eviction.
Artur Lastayev also highlighted the establishment of a new constitutional institution, the Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesi (People’s Council of Kazakhstan), designed to broaden public representation and strengthen dialogue between the state and society.
Concluding his remarks, the Ombudsman stressed that the constitutional reform extends beyond the adoption of the new Constitution. Its implementation continues through the ongoing development of national legislation and the practical application of constitutional guarantees for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Commissioner for Human Rights Artur Lastayev addressed a plenary session on the rule of law at the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
In his remarks, the Ombudsman highlighted the strengthening of fundamental rights and freedoms as one of the key outcomes of Kazakhstan’s constitutional reform. For the first time in the country’s constitutional history, the Miranda rule has been expressly enshrined in the Constitution. The presumption of innocence, the right against self-incrimination and the protection against double jeopardy have also been incorporated into the section of the Constitution dedicated to human rights, reinforcing safeguards designed to provide effective protection of individual rights.
Artur Lastayev also outlined measures aimed at improving access to justice. Dedicated cassation courts were established in 2025, with cassation appeals now heard by a panel of judges in proceedings involving the parties to the case.
Administrative justice has also become an important mechanism for resolving disputes between individuals and public authorities. The digitalization of court proceedings and the automated allocation of cases provide additional safeguards for accessible and impartial justice.
Concluding his remarks, Artur Lastayev noted that the ongoing reforms are gradually building a stronger framework of legal safeguards centered on the individual and the right to effective judicial protection.
During the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan Artur Lastayev and Director in the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Maria Telalian signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The Memorandum marks a further step in strengthening cooperation between the two institutions and expanding joint efforts to advance democratic values and the rule of law.
Under the Memorandum, the two institutions will deepen cooperation in human rights protection, legislative development, institutional capacity-building and the exchange of expertise, in line with international standards.
The agreement reaffirms their shared commitment to cooperation, transparency and constructive engagement within their respective mandates.
Commissioner for Human Rights Artur Lastayev addressed a plenary session of the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Human Dimension Conference dedicated to ethnic and religious tolerance and non-discrimination.
Speaking during a plenary session on ethnic and religious tolerance and non-discrimination, Ombudsman noted that Kazakhstan is home to more than 120 ethnic groups and has around 1,000 ethno-cultural associations, reflecting the country’s ethnic and religious diversity.
The Сommissioner outlined the legal protections in place to uphold equality and prevent discrimination. These include administrative and criminal liability for violations of equal rights and for incitement to social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hatred, including offences committed through the media, telecommunications networks and online platforms.
“Those who violate equal rights or incite social, national, ethnic, racial or religious hatred, including through the media, telecommunications networks and online platforms, may face administrative or criminal liability,” Artur Lastayev said.
The Ombudsman also highlighted the role of the Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesi (People’s Council of Kazakhstan) in promoting inclusive public dialogue. As the country’s highest constitutional advisory body, the Council represents the interests of the people and contributes to dialogue and coordination on matters related to national unity. The Council comprises 126 members, including 42 representatives of ethno-cultural associations.
Similar mechanisms are in place at the regional level. Representatives of ethno-cultural associations make up at least one quarter of the membership of public councils, giving ethnic communities a regular channel for participation in public discussions and an opportunity to have their perspectives reflected in deliberations on issues of wider public importance.
Artur Lastayev also addressed freedom of conscience and religion, stressing the principle of equal treatment of religious communities. As a secular state, Kazakhstan does not grant any religion a privileged legal status. The same legal framework applies to all religious associations, regardless of the size of their membership.
The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Artur Lastayev, held a meeting with Douglas Wake, Head of the Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the nationwide referendum on the new Constitution of Kazakhstan scheduled for 15 March. Particular attention was given to the key aspects of the constitutional reform, the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, as well as ensuring the transparency and openness of the electoral process.
In the course of the discussion, the activities of the Office of the Commissioner were also presented, including its key areas of work, mechanisms for the protection of citizens’ rights, and its cooperation with state bodies and civil society institutions.
Artur Lastayev, Human Rights Commissioner, conducted a working meeting with UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia.
The parties discussed the outcomes of the project «Strengthening the Effectiveness of National Human Rights Mechanisms in Kazakhstan», jointly implemented by the National Centre for Human Rights and UNDP from 2023 to 2025.
In addition, the parties identified areas for further cooperation and the promotion of international human rights standards in Kazakhstan.
Artur Lastayev and Katarzyna Wawiernia emphasized the importance of further cooperation aimed at broadening public access to legal protection and consolidating rule-of-law principles in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, the Ombudsperson also provided information on the draft of the country’s New Constitution, which will be submitted to a national referendum on 15 March.
Artur Lastayev highlighted that the Constitutional Reforms would enhance the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
A discussion of the main provisions of the draft of the new Constitution took place at the National Center for Human Rights.
As noted by the Human Rights Commissioner, Artur Lastayev, in his address to the staff of the Center and regional ombudsmans, the drafting of the country’s Basic Law took place over several months and took into account the views of engaged citizens, as well as the proposals of the working group and the members of the Constitutional Reform Commission (Constitutional Commission).
The presented draft of the new Constitution elicited a broad public response and became the subject of active discussion.
The amendments to the Basic Law affected all sections and 77 articles, accounting for over 80% of the Constitution's text. The draft reflects the foundations of profound constitutional modernization and provides a solid basis for the state’s future development.
In his address, the Ombudsman focused specifically on issues related to human rights and the mechanisms that protect them.
The Commissioner emphasized that, for the first time in the history of independent Kazakhstan, the Preamble declares the unwavering observance of citizens’ rights and freedoms.
The Commissioner emphasised that this is the first time in the history of independent Kazakhstan that the Preamble has declared unwavering observance of citizens’ rights and freedoms. Once again, the emphasis has been placed on the paramount importance of human rights, with the section devoted to them being renamed.
According to Artur Lastayev, the key point was the enshrinement of the absolute right to life in the draft Constitution: “This is the foundation of all rights and freedoms. Without it, other freedoms would simply not exist.”
The Ombudsman also highlighted other proposed provisions of the new Constitution, including the right not to testify against oneself or one’s relatives and not to bear the burden of proving one’s own innocence; the enshrinement of the secular character of the state; the principle of presumption of innocence; the foundational principles of marriage and family; the continued prohibition of the death penalty; strengthened guarantees of personal inviolability; the protection of personal data; and other key measures.
In discussing the draft of the country’s Basic Law, the meeting participants emphasized the importance of strengthening guarantees for the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
As part of the Republican Mediation Week campaign, on August 5, Representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights Galiyev M.T. visited the Open Day of Mediation offices of the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan, held in the capital's House of Friendship. During the visit, issues on a simplified procedure for settling disputes between citizens and restoring the violated rights of the parties were discussed.
Mediation is a new form of alternative dispute resolution involving a third, neutral person who is not interested in the conflict. This person is a mediator who helps the parties to a dispute or court proceedings to work out a certain agreement, while the parties fully control the decision-making process to resolve the dispute and the conditions for its resolution.
On June 21, 2023, the Representative Office of the National Center for Human Rights in Astana hosted a meeting of international experts of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions with the Representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Astana Galiev M.T.
At a meeting with international experts Philippa Erica Dargan (Chief Adviser on Capacity Assessment and International Cooperation ATF), Rosslyn Joy Nuan (expert on human rights and organizational development of national human rights institutions ATF), Lukinikini Vili (Director of Human Rights, Office of the Ombudsman of Samoa), Ilima Bokoshova (National Program Coordinator of the Regional Office of the OHCHR for Central Asia), Ainura Bekkoenova (Policy Specialist in the field of the rule of law, Security and Human Rights of the Istanbul Regional Office of the UNDP for Europe and Central Asia) discussed the main issues of the Representative Office's activities aimed at assessing the potential of the Institute of the National Center for Human Rights and its regional offices.
The representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Astana, M.T. Galiev, attended the opening of the "Holiday of the Mind" tournament, with the support of USAID, where school students at the debates revealed topics such as freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, freedom of religion, women's rights, the right to education, freedom from cruel, degrading treatment.
In his welcoming speech, M.T. Galiev made a report on the topic "The rights of the child: prevention of bullying in schools". At the opening of the tournament, the creators of the Children's Human Rights Committee managed to gather teachers, principals of 8 schools, volunteers, representatives of international organizations of the United Nations and USAID, students of the L.N.Gumilev Eurasian University at the event.
Bullying in schools is one of the most acute problems associated with the violation of children's rights. Bullying of children in educational institutions carries a wide range of negative consequences from the development of mental disorders to suicide attempts.
In this regard, wide coverage of this issue is one of the mechanisms in preventing violations of the rights of the child.