Astana, February 4th: One of the most important elements of building democracy in Kazakhstan concerns liberalizing legislation towards better protection of citizens’ rights, raising their legal literacy and improving the judicial system.
Kazakhstan has launched several initiatives to liberalize legislation in line with two strategic documents, the ‘National Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012’ and the ‘Concept of Legal Policy for 2010-2020’. Both documents were approved by President Nazarbayev last summer.
During the past three months, the President has signed a number of bills in accordance with the strategies: on January 20th, he signed the law ‘On forensic activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan’ - designed to further improve the scope of forensic work, as well as ensure the independence and objectivity of forensic analysis. Earlier, in November and December 2009, he signed related laws: the law on liberalizing the penal system in line with international standards, the law on strengthening anti-corruption activities and laws concerning equal rights opportunities for men and women, the prevention of domestic violence and the protection of refugees’ and labor migrants’ rights.
Kazakhstan’s National Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012 - the first document of its kind in Central Asia - formulates the main directions of Kazakhstan’s domestic and foreign policy in the human rights area.
The Action Plan reveals gaps in the legislative base and law enforcement practices of the nation. It also indicates the absence of proper coordination and consistency in the work of State bodies and non-governmental organizations. Insufficient experience, as well as scarce conceptual and methodical customizing of the human rights concept into Kazakhstan’s reality predetermines shortcomings in this area, the document states.
Particular attention in the Action Plan is paid to reinforcing the independence of the judicial system, the development of non-judicial mechanisms for the protection of human rights and the protection of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of citizens, including the rights of socially vulnerable groups.
After the Plan’s unveiling in Astana, it was presented in several regions and to the country’s State bodies to enable officials to implement provisions dealing with their areas of activity. The Plan was also presented abroad; in Warsaw, for example, the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions & Human Rights commended it.
The National Plan was prepared according to the results of the baseline report ‘On the Situation of Human Rights in Kazakhstan’. This report shows the robust cooperation between the Kazakh government, United Nations Development Programme, non-governmental and partner outfits (such as the British and Dutch embassies), and the OSCE Center in Astana.
.JPG)
