The meeting addressed topical issues related to child protection and prospects of future cooperation in education, healthcare and social development.
The Secretary of State congratulated Yuri Oksamitniy on his appointment as UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan and expressed her confidence that Kazakhstan and UNICEF will continue their fruitful cooperation.
Gulshara Abdykalikova stressed that UNICEF plays an important role in improving the situation of children in the world and Kazakhstan, having noted the country’s government is taking proactive efforts to implement the United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF).
Kazakhstan, in cooperation with UNICEF and within the organisation’s Country Programme for 2010-2015, is taking measures to strengthen families and communities, develop social policy and management, and improve the system of social protection. One of the programme’s top priorities is to improve the situation of children in South Kazakhstan and East Kazakhstan regions, including the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and Aral Sea region.
The government is also taking steps to implement the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child related to the development of juvenile justice system, prevention of child labour, introduction of alternative forms of family upbringing of orphans, and meeting the unique needs of children with disabilities.