Kazakhstan - November 2025

The lower house of parliament adopted a bill banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ on 12 November, sending it to the upper house for further consideration. The bill would prohibit the ‘dissemination of information containing propaganda of non‑traditional sexual orientation and paedophilia’ and has been strongly criticized by international human rights organizations and United Nations experts as marginalizing LGBTQIA+ Kazakhs and violating children’s rights to education, information and health. The text of the law resembles Russia’s similar ‘LGBT propaganda’ ban, and LGBTQIA+ Kazakhs face similar risks as those in Russia, including police violence and extortion, degrading treatment from society at large and a lack of access to justice.

Sources: Vlast.kz, Human Rights Watch, OHCHR