Daulet SAGATBEK, Member of the Commission on Youth Rights under the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, expert of the Public Foundation “National Endowment for Prosperity”

Plenary Session 10: Fundamental Freedoms

(Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association; Human Rights Defenders; National Human Rights Institutions; Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief)



My name is Daulet Sagatbek, and I’m an expert from a non-governmental organization — the National Endowment for Prosperity.



Ladies and gentlemen,

When we talk about freedom of peaceful assembly and association, it sounds formal. But in reality, it’s very simple.

It means people have the right to come together, speak their mind, and act together without fear.

It can be students starting a club, workers forming a union, or neighbors meeting in the square.

Why does this matter?

Because these freedoms are the daily heartbeat of democracy.

When people gather freely, they share problems, build trust, and push for solutions.

Associations and community groups give people the tools to turn frustration into action.

But today, we see real challenges. In many countries, organizing a peaceful event requires endless paperwork. Sometimes peaceful protests are met with violence instead of dialogue. Fear grows, and participation suffers.

What can be done?

Me, myself, as an expert from the National Endowment for Prosperity and a member of the Youth Rights Commission under the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan, see some clear steps:

1. Fair rules. Organizing peaceful assemblies should be simple and safe. Notification, not endless permission.

2. Protection online. Platforms must be transparent and respect the rights of

organizers.

3. Support for youth. Small grants, safe spaces, and quick approvals can help young people play their role in society.

These steps are not complicated. They are common sense. Freedom of assembly is not a threat. It is a safety valve. It prevents anger from turning into conflict. So, let’s not measure democracy only by elections. Let’s measure it by how easy it is for people to meet, to speak, and to act together any day of the year. Because when people can gather freely, democracy breathes.

Thank you.



Ph.D. Usen SULEIMEN, Director of Public Foundation “National Endowment for Prosperity”



Dear participants,

Daulet SAGATBEK is the youngest expert of our Foundation. He is 42 years younger than me. I want to add several points to our today’s theme.



Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

The Constitution of Kazakhstan guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly, including the right to hold rallies and demonstrations. Restrictions may be imposed only by Lawand solely to protect the constitutional order, public safety, health, morals, and the rights of others. This fully aligns with international standards.

When violations are identified during peaceful assemblies, participants are first informed and explained the legal rules. Responsibility is considered only in exceptional cases, when there are clear signs of a disturbance of public order. The final decision is made by the court.

Practice also confirms this. In 2024, 177 cases were registered for violations of the procedure for organizing and holding peaceful assemblies (Article 488 of the Administrative Code), while in 2025 the number of cases decreased by more than half – to 73.

Freedom of Religion or Belief

Kazakhstan’s policy on freedom of religion is based on the principles of constitutional guarantees of freedom of conscience, the promotion of interfaith dialogue, and proportionate restrictions to protect public and national security.

Therefore, assertions concerning alleged “violations of freedom of religion,” “registration denials,” “obstruction,” and “restrictions on religious dress” are factually inaccurate and misrepresent the real situation for at least three reasons.

First, the law guarantees the free exercise of religious rights and positive religious or missionary activities.

Second, the regulatory filters applied in Kazakhstan are consistent with universally recognized criteria for permissible restrictions.

Registration procedures, missionary activity oversight, expert review of materials, and requirements for designated distribution locations all serve legitimate aims: to prevent aggressive proselytism, exploitative practices disguised as charity, radicalizing propaganda, and fraud.

Third, the key elements of Kazakhstan’s model reflect the legal approaches and practices of developed countries, including in the areas of identity verification and the prevention of unlawful and manipulative practices, and are fully consistent with international standards.

Article 18 of the ICCPR and General Comment № 22 of the UN Human Rights Committee distinguish between the absolute freedom of inner conviction and the freedom to manifest religion or belief, which may be subject to lawful restrictions for the protection of public safety, order, health, morals, and the rights and freedoms of others.

National Human Rights Institutions

As a result of the 2022 constitutional reforms, the status of the Ombudsperson has been significantly strengthened and enshrined in both the Constitution and the Constitutional Law.

Regional Ombudspersons have also been introduced. The institution operates in an open and transparent manner, and all information on its activities is publicly available on its official website.

As reflected in the Ombudsperson’s Annual Report, the number of complaints continues to grow. In 2024, the Office received 6,748 complaints, which is a 17% increase compared to 2023 (5,773), and almost double the 2022 figure (3,948).

This upward trend continues in 2025.

With the establishment of regional ombudspersons, the number of preventive visits to prisons and other closed facilities has more than doubled, which has had a positive impact on the protection of the rights of persons held in such institutions.

In addition, Kazakhstan has specialized ombudspersons with specific mandates – for children, persons with disabilities, business, as well as for the insurance and banking sectors.