Astana, 6 December 2024 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of the Steering Committee to coordinate the development of the Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for 2026-2030.

The event was chaired by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akan Rakhmetullin and Head of UNICEF Country Office Rashed Sarwar, as well as with the participation of representatives of government agencies and UNICEF experts.  

A. Rakhmetullin praised the joint work of Kazakhstan with UNICEF, in particular, the establishment of the institution of the Commissioner for Children's Rights, the introduction of the Child Wellbeing Index of Kazakhstan, the launch of the programme ‘National Fund for Children’, and the tightening of responsibility for any form of violence against children. ‘Adoption of these legislative and institutional measures is part of the policy of transformations of the President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, aimed at creating a fair and open society,’ Rakhmetullin said.

R.Sarvar noted that the new Programme of Cooperation between the Government of the RK and UNICEF is the result of the commitment of the parties to work on the implementation of children's rights. ‘By investing in their education, health and general well-being, we are laying a solid foundation for their future lives and making strategic investments to develop the country's leadership in the region and around the world,’ he said.

At the end of the event, participants agreed to work to ensure that the new Programme reflects the real needs of society and is in line with international standards and national priorities.