Visually-impaired version 
On October 19th, 2024, Muslim Khassenov, an MNU Associate Professor and member of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, gave a speech in New York, hosted in the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
The session covered topics such as enhancing social services’ human resource capacity to protect women and children and social work’s crucial role in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Khassenov mentioned in his speech that the UN should focus on developing a Model Act centred around social work. Such a law could be a beacon that leads various nations when it comes to strengthening the status and capacity of social workers, creating recommendations on how to improve their legal position.
Khassenov also pointed out the gender inequality in wages of social workers, women’s underrepresentation in the political and economic spheres, as well as the need to improve the qualifications of experts who deal with vulnerable populations, enhance their qualifications. Additionally, special attention should be paid to supporting women leaders in the social sphere, as it promotes the rights of women and children at all levels.
International experts, such as Professor Michael Sherraden from Washington University in St. Louis, USA, also offered their experiences, highlighting Kazakhstan’s success in executing the National Fund for Children programme, which is based on the idea of universal child benefits.
The event brought together representatives of the UN, international organisations and the academic community, who are ready to further cooperate with Kazakhstan to strengthen the social protection of women and children.