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The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, conducted an official visit to Kazakhstan from 10-17 May 2019 at the invitation of the Government to assess Kazakhstan’s counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices, measured against Kazakhstan’s international human rights obligations.

The Special Rapporteur commends the constructive and cooperative way in which the Government facilitated her visit, which enabled a frank and open dialogue. The Special Rapporteur notes her particular thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its well-organized and efficient engagement with her office. She thanks the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and the Human Rights Officer as well as the OHCHR focal point in Kazakhstan for their excellent work in supporting this visit.

The Special Rapporteur commends the Government of Kazakhstan for the return of approximately 278 mostly women and children from conflict sites in Syria and Iraq, with several repatriation operations in both January and on 7 and 9 May 2019 coinciding with her visit. She affirms that not only is this the positive implementation of Kazakhstan’s international obligations under Security Council resolution 2178, it is also a welcome humanitarian response to the plight of those women, men and children who are detained in overcrowded in North-eastern Syria in inhuman conditions. She notes the continued willingness of the Government to close the impunity gap from Syria and to prosecute those individuals against whom there is sufficient evidence of criminal behaviour. She wishes to thank the Government for providing her access to the camp in Aktau where the latest returnees are currently held.

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