Staff of government agencies and national companies in Kazakhstan trained to prevent harassment

May 15, 2026

Speaker addresses attendees at round tables in a conference room with a projector screen. — Participants of the training

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Yerbol Omarov

UNDP has conducted a three-day training in Kazakhstan on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH). More than 200 participants — representing government bodies, national companies, civil society organizations, academic and environmental institutions, as well as United Nations agency staff — learned to identify violations, respond appropriately and provide support to those affected. The training continued UNDP Kazakhstan’s long-standing work to promote safe, respectful and harassment-free workplaces.

The training took place at a pivotal moment, as Kazakhstan advances draft legislation that would, for the first time, enshrine the concept of harassment in national labour law. The bill, developed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is currently undergoing interministerial review. UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia underscored that legislation and capacity-building must go hand in hand: "A provision on paper is only effective when people know their rights and trust the mechanisms in place to protect them."

Diverse group of professionals around a round table in a conference room; microphones on the table.

Photograph shows a man in a suit speaking at a conference table, surrounded by attendees.

Five professionals sit around a round table in a conference room during a meeting.

Diverse group seated around a conference table with microphones in a meeting room.

Professionals around a round conference table with microphones and a projector slide.

Group of people in a conference room around a table with documents, water bottles, and microphones.

Group of professionals at a round conference table; woman in white blouse speaking to the group.

Speaker in a dark blazer at a seminar, standing beside banners and a projection screen.

Photograph of professionals at a round conference table with microphones in a meeting room.

Group of people seated around a long table in a bright conference room, engaged in discussion.

Group of people seated around a round banquet table in an elegant dining room.

Group of people in formal attire posing with certificates at a ceremony.

Partcipants of the training

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Madina Kakimzhanova (1-10), Yerbol Omarov (11-13)

During the training, participants worked through realistic scenarios drawn from everyday workplace settings. Sessions were facilitated by experts from the UNDP Executive Office in New York.

Female presenter in a white blazer speaks into a microphone on stage beside a UN banner. — Lara Chlela, UNDP Victim Support Officer

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Madina Kakimzhanova

"We focused on how to prevent such incidents, respond to them appropriately and ensure that survivors have safe access to the support they need,"

said Lara Chlela, UNDP Victim Support Officer.

Female speaker presenting on prevention and response to sexual misconduct in a conference room.

A crowded banquet hall with round tables; a speaker addresses attendees.

Photograph of colleagues at a conference room table; one woman stands and guides the group.

Conference room with round tables; attendees wearing lanyards listen as a speaker talks.

Photo: group of people at a round table in a conference room, with papers and water bottles.

People seated around a round table in a conference room; a man in a suit reads notes.

Photograph: curly-haired woman in a white coat hands a document to a man at a conference table.

Conference room filled with attendees at round tables; a woman uses a laptop in the foreground.

Group of people dining at round tables in a conference hall; projector screen in the background.

Six professionals sit around a conference table in a meeting room with laptops and papers.

Five people sit around a round table in a bright meeting room, discussing with notebooks.

Partcipants of the training

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Madina Kakimzhanova

In 2025, UNDP delivered 169 such trainings worldwide, reaching more than 6,700 individuals. Programme evaluations indicate that in-person training significantly improves participants' ability to recognize warning signs and increases their confidence to take action when required.

Photograph of a blonde woman presenting in a conference room, projector screen with charts behind. — Yanthe Cornelissen, UNDP Global Advisor on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Madina Kakimzhanova

"All forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment constitute violations of human rights and are wholly unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring that every individual — both our staff and the people we serve — can safely report incidents and access the support they need,"

said Yanthe Cornelissen, UNDP Global Advisor on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment.

Learn more about prevention and response measures related to sexual misconduct.

English