Kazakhstan Outlines Human Rights and Disarmament Priorities at UN Forums in Geneva

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, participated in the high-level segments of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

The key event of the Human Rights Council was attended by over 100 high-level representatives from states and international organizations, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Addressing the opening of the twentieth anniversary cycle of the UN Human Rights Council, Ashikbayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to protecting and promoting human rights as a fundamental basis for freedom, justice, and sustainable peace. He informed the international community about the results of systemic reforms to strengthen national human rights architecture within the framework of the "Just Kazakhstan" course.

Special attention was paid to constitutional reform. It was noted that the draft new Constitution, proposed for a nationwide referendum, aims to form a human-centric state model, expand guarantees for rights and freedoms—including in digital space—and enshrine the principle of "Law and Order."

Kazakhstan confirmed its unwavering support for a multilateral system based on the UN Charter and norms of international law. In this context, Kazakhstan's international initiatives were presented. These include promoting a Global Initiative to strengthen political commitment to international humanitarian law; activities of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions; launching a UN Regional Hub for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty; hosting a Regional Environmental Summit; as well as advancing an initiative to establish an International Water Organization under UN auspices.

At the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament, Kazakhstan confirmed its unchanged view on this forum's role as a primary and indispensable multilateral negotiation mechanism in disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation.

Particular focus was placed on upcoming 2026 anniversaries reflecting Kazakhstan's contribution to collective efforts towards nuclear disarmament:

• The 35th anniversary of closing Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site;
• The 30th anniversary opening for signature Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;
• The 20th anniversary Treaty Semipalatinsk establishing Central Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone status.

Ahead Review Conferences Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Treaty Prohibition Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) scheduled take place year reaffirmed readiness facilitate constructive dialogue among key actors reiterated commitment strengthening global disarmament non-proliferation regime.

The speech emphasized importance resuming strategic dialogue between nuclear-weapon states prevent new arms race reduce risk nuclear confrontation accordance initiative President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev put forward during 80th session General Assembly September last year.

Kazakhstan also called further strengthening Biological Weapons Convention including development verification mechanisms institutional support through establishment International Agency Biological Safety (IABS).

Concluding statement urged member states Conference demonstrate flexibility willingness compromise start substantive negotiations order strengthen international security enhance effectiveness multilateral diplomacy.