Women judges, legal professionals, and young justice sector practitioners from Central Asian countries gathered in Astana from 28 to 30 April 2026 for a series of OSCE-supported events aimed at strengthening regional professional dialogue, promoting gender-sensitive justice, and supporting the next generation of justice professionals.
They also brought together representatives of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the High Judicial Council, the Parliament of Kazakhstan, judicial and law enforcement institutions, academia, civil society, international organizations, and the International Association of Women Judges.
On 28 April, a Women in Justice Empowerment Breakfast provided a platform for discussion on the development of an Alliance of Women in the Justice System in Central Asia and possible formats for co-operation with the International Association of Women Judges. Participants also exchanged views on inter-agency co-operation to ensure effective legal protection for vulnerable groups and co-ordinated responses to gender-based violence.
The meeting featured contributions from Elvira Azimova, Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan; Snezhanna Imasheva, Chair of the Committee on Legislation and Judicial and Legal Reform of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; Madina Jarbussynova, Representative of Kazakhstan and Central Asia to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; Ita Farrelly, European Regional Representative of the International Association of Women Judges; judges of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Kazakhstan; members of the High Judicial Council; and women judges from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The event was followed by the opening of a training course entitled "Young Professionals in Justice", held until 30 April. The course brought together 27 young professionals aged 25 to 32 (22 women and 5 men), including newly appointed judges, judicial staff, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and other practitioners from different regions of Kazakhstan, as well as experts from Central Asia and beyond.
The three-day programme combined peer-to-peer dialogue with practice-oriented learning designed to connect professional experience with the needs of young justice sector practitioners. During the peer-to-peer sessions, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and senior legal professionals shared insights into judicial and law enforcement practices, professional ethics, career development, and skills required to strengthen public trust in justice institutions. These exchanges enabled participants to discuss real-life challenges, ask questions, and receive practical guidance from experienced practitioners. The practical sessions then built on this dialogue by equipping participants with applied knowledge and tools in areas such as the rule of law, access to justice, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and personal data protection, gender-sensitive justice, judicial ethics, legal reasoning, communication, and conflict management. Particular attention was given to strengthening ethical decision-making, legal argumentation, leadership and communication skills, as well as to promoting practical approaches to ensuring equal and effective access to justice for women and girls.
The events were organized within the framework of the extrabudgetary project "Improving the Effectiveness of the Justice System in Kazakhstan" and reflect the OSCE's continued support for Kazakhstan's efforts to enhance the effectiveness, openness, and accountability of the justice system, while fostering regional exchange and professional networks among justice sector actors. It also contributed to advancing women's leadership in justice institutions and equipping young professionals with practical tools to respond to emerging challenges in the legal field.
