Reacting to the forthcoming reading in Kazakhstan’s parliament of draft amendments that would ban so-called “LGBTI propaganda”, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:
“Together with Kazakhstani civil society we call on lawmakers to reject these draft amendments before they become law. Banning so-called ‘LGBTI propaganda’ is not about protecting children, it’s about institutionalizing stigma, fear and censorship.
Banning so-called ‘LGBTI propaganda’ is not about protecting children, it’s about institutionalizing stigma, fear and censorship
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director
“If the Kazakhstani authorities truly want to protect and nurture young people, they should rebuff this harmful initiative and instead reaffirm the country’s commitment to human rights and principles of non-discrimination already enshrined in the constitution and other binding legislation. There is no need to police love, literature or imagination.”
Background
On 12 November, the Majilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, is expected to hold a full reading of draft amendments introducing a ban on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation and pedophilia.” The bill, endorsed by a Majilis working group on 28 October, is now moving toward swift adoption. Lawmakers are reportedly seeking to finalize the amendments before parliament adjourns for the New Year recess in early January 2026.
The amendments propose mandatory labeling for public materials featuring LGBTI themes, including books, films and media content. Violations could lead to fines or short-term detention, and the authorities would be granted powers to suspend access to websites and digital content without court order. The provisions were added to an unrelated bill on national archives without public consultation or expert review.
The initiative follows a 2024 petition signed by 50,000 citizens demanding restrictions on public LGBTI representation. Last year, Kazakhstan banned LGBTI people from adopting or mentoring orphans. A similar set of proposals to outlaw “LGBTI propaganda” by amending the mass media law in April 2024 was withdrawn.