In accordance with Item 17 of the
2026 Action Plan for the implementation of the research project IRN AP26100031 “The International Mediation Hub as a
Tool for Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Nuclear Disarmament: The Experience
of Kazakhstan and Foreign Countries,” the research team,
jointly with the Institute of Parliamentarism, organized a round table entitled
“The Role of Mediation in
Strengthening International Security: A Path Towards Nuclear Disarmament.”
The event was dedicated to two
significant milestones: the 15th
anniversary of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Mediation”
and the 35th anniversary of the
closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.
The round table brought together
representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the
Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republican
Council of Mediation, the Committee for the Development of Interethnic
Relations, the Public Institution Qogamdyq Kelisim, Zhetysu University
named after Ilyas Zhansugurov, Astana International University, as well as
members of the professional mediation community and international experts.
The discussion was moderated by PhD Sholpan Saimova, Principal
Investigator of the research project. In her opening remarks, she emphasized
the growing importance of mediation as an effective instrument of preventive
diplomacy, conflict prevention and confidence-building. She also presented the
concept of the International Mediation
Hub as an expert and diplomatic platform designed to integrate
academic, legal and practical expertise in order to advance modern mechanisms
for the peaceful settlement of disputes at both the national and international
levels.
Particular attention was drawn to the
presentation delivered by Professor
Lyudmila V. Orlova, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, mediator
trainer, mentor of mediation practitioners, and Head of the self-regulatory
organization Association “Mediator”
of the Samara Region. In her presentation, Professor Orlova highlighted the
increasing significance of mediation as an effective mechanism for the peaceful
resolution of disputes, the promotion of constructive dialogue and the strengthening
of social cohesion. She also emphasized the importance of further developing
the institution of mediation, enhancing the professional training of mediators
and expanding international cooperation in this field.
During the round table, participants
discussed current trends in the development of mediation in Kazakhstan and
abroad, the application of ethnomediation, the improvement of legal,
organizational and psychological approaches to conflict resolution, as well as
the use of contemporary mediation tools in public administration and
international practice.
Participants noted that Kazakhstan’s
extensive experience in peacebuilding, fostering interethnic dialogue and
promoting the global nuclear disarmament agenda provides a solid foundation for
the further development of international mediation, preventive diplomacy and
confidence-building initiatives.
Following the discussion,
participants developed a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening academic
and expert cooperation, further advancing the professional mediation framework,
expanding international collaboration, and promoting the implementation of
modern mechanisms for conflict prevention and peaceful dispute resolution.