The Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a conference on “Protection of Human Rights in the Period of Global Digitalisation” in Astana. The event gathered representatives of state institutions, specialised ombudspersons, international organisations, academia and civil society to discuss current human rights challenges in the digital era.
In their welcoming remarks, Konul GASIMOVA, Head of Unit, Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards of the Council of Europe, and Artur LASTAEV, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan, underlined the importance of inter-institutional dialogue and international cooperation to ensure that human rights remain fully protected amid rapid technological change.
The conference brought together around 65 in person participants and more than 30 online attendees, including representatives from different state institutions, ministries and public agencies, members of the Coordination, Expert and Academic Councils under the Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as representatives of UN agencies, the European Union Delegation, OSCE, UNICEF, and the Embassies of Germany and the Netherlands.
Discussions focused on the implications of digitalisation on the protection of human rights and the role of ombudsperson institutions in addressing emerging challenges.
Dmitry NURUMOV, Council of Europe Consultant, opened the thematic session by presenting international experience and best practices in protecting human rights in the digital age, emphasising the responsibility of national human rights institutions to adapt their approaches to new realities.
Alibek TAZHIBAEV, Director of the Eurasian Monitoring Center for Analytical Research, explored how digital platforms are transforming public communication and international relations, highlighting the need for inclusive and human rights–based dialogue.
Dmytro TRETYAKOV, Lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights, addressed the topic of data protection and privacy through the lens of the Court’s case law, underscoring the importance of safeguarding personal data and ensuring transparency and accountability in digital governance.
Further contributions were made by Professor Sara IDRYSHEVA, Member of the Academic Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights, who discussed challenges linked to the Digital Code of Kazakhstan, and Aidana AKESINA, Chief Expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, who analysed how electronic petitions and digital tools can expand civic participation and enhance human rights practices.
Participants engaged in an active exchange of views on data protection, access to information, and the human rights implications of digital technologies. They underlined the need for continued dialogue between state institutions, experts and civil society to ensure that digital transformation contributes to strengthening, not undermining, human rights protection.
The event concluded with a joint reaffirmation of commitment to uphold human rights standards in the context of digitalisation and to continue cooperation with international partners in this field.
The event was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Reinforcing the institutional capacity of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) institution in Kazakhstan” implemented under the Council of Europe Neighbourhood Cooperation Priorities with the Republic of Kazakhstan, funded by Germany.