I REQUEST Anniversary
A YEAR FORGED IN STRUGGLE. A YEAR OF RISING STRENGTH.
Today, August 8, we celebrate the first and most meaningful anniversary of our initiative REQUEST. This was the year when we transformed hope into determined action and proved that our collective voice can make a difference.
Over the past year, we have been a shield and a source of support for our community. Our ongoing legal support service provided essential consultations to more than 100 beneficiaries. We created spaces for dialogue and knowledge through 11 Queer Rights Talks held in Astana, Almaty, and online, bringing together over 250 participants. We implemented two key civic engagement projects, guided by the belief that every voice matters.
We are also investing in the future. Our new visionary program BOIAÝ has already connected emerging human rights defenders and activists from across the country, while our advocacy training equipped activists from the regions with knowledge and tools for effective human rights work.
Even in challenging times, we have shown that it is possible to create light. We made history by organizing the first Queer Rights Fest in Astana, and celebrated Human Rights Day = LGBTQIA+ Rights Day through workshops, a psychological training session, and a warm community reception that strengthened solidarity and connection.
Our advocacy has been strategic and determined. We challenged the Ministry of Culture and Information in court over the outcomes of the discriminatory petition. In partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we hosted a significant UPR dialogue on Coming Out Day, bringing together more than 30 diplomats. Our voice reached international platforms: three interventions at the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, the organization of our own side event, a week of advocacy meetings in Geneva during the UPR process, and the presentation of a civil society report under the ICCPR before the UN Human Rights Committee. Our expertise has also been internationally recognized — REQUEST has been included in the ECOM expert registry.
Behind every achievement stands sustained and demanding work. We conduct regular monitoring of legislation and developed a strategy to prevent potential criminalization based on our own research. Through strategic planning, we adopted a three-year development plan, looking ahead with clarity and determination. Our strength also lies in regional solidarity, as we support LGBTQIA+ initiatives across Central Asia.
Our digital presence continues to grow: Instagram reached more than 150,000 people in the past three months, and our Telegram channel has received over 7,000 views.
This was only the first year. A year that proved we are a force that cannot be ignored.
Thank you to everyone who has stood with us. Ahead lie new challenges and new achievements. REQUEST is not just an initiative. It is a movement. It is our shared future.
Happy anniversary of resilience. The journey continues.
Related publications
– Meet REQUEST: A New Queer Rights Initiative from Kazakhstan
– REQUEST Registration Court Case in Kazakhstan
– Pride Month Kazakhstan