Round Table on the Development of International Mediation Takes Place

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.