First joint meeting on gender equality and harassment was held between Nazarbayev University and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan. Organized online roundtable discussed the action plan for creating equal opportunities and safe work.

In his welcoming speech, Nazarbayev University President, Mr. Shigeo Katsu noted the importance to "create respectful work- and learning places where everybody can study peacefully without any fear of being harassed". 

During the session, UNDP representatives shared their corporate practices for mainstreaming gender equality across activity areas including programming, partnerships, communications and advocacy, management systems, in-house environment and capacities of the staff. UNDP also presented their revised Code of Ethics, which promotes, strengthens and supports an ethical culture throughout UNDP to help the staff make ethical decisions both in the context of their work as well as in their personal interactions outside work. 

In his welcoming remarks, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Mr. Yakup Beris, emphasized the importance and relevance of such round table discussion by saying that "building a culture of safety and fairness starts with strengthening ethical values and the ability to act upon them. I strongly believe that today’s event is a great way Nazarbayev University affirms its values and commitment to high ethical standards which can potentially become industry standards in Kazakhstan.” 

It was also the University students who spoke at the meeting, presenting their progress in developing the Anti-Harassment Policy -- a product of the initiative group established within the NU community.

Summing up the first meeting in the NU-UNDP format, President Katsu pointed out that it was necessary to carry out comprehensive institutional reforms that would eventually build up the atmosphere of trust between students, teaching and the administrative staff. Concerning the innovations, according to the President, the role of the Ombudsman and mandatory sensitivity trainings for teaching and staff are currently in the pipeline. On top of it, the University is planning to revise its Code of Ethics and the Anti-Harassment Policy.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Katsu thanked UNDP representatives for their valuable contribution and expressed his confidence that such a know-how sharing event would become a norm.