Issues of effective investigation and documentation of torture in accordance with the Istanbul protocol were studied by prosecutors,judges,forensic experts and lawyers of the Turkestan Region at a seminar in Shymkent.

The event was organized by the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan and the OSCE office of Programs in Astana.in the framework of a joint UNDP project with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The aim of the seminar was to assist specialists in improving their professional skills for the particular application of effective approaches in the investigation of cases of torture.

Within three days the  participants  got acquainted with the main issues of investigating the facts of torture,as well as the international standarts of forensic medical examination and documenting of the facts forture.

As the organizers note,the level of interaction between Law enforcement agencies is of crucial importance for an effective investigation of the facts of torture,with the forensic experts and lawyers,and the provision of a  qualitative evidence base for bringing cases to the attention of the judicial authorities.

Within the framework of the seminar,practising internatinoal and national experts Rusudan Beriashvili,Anara Ibraeva,Arman Akhanbekov shared their experience which provided and detailed overview of the criteria for the investigation,gathering evidence and documenting the facts of torture and ill-treatment in accordance with the Stanbul Protocol.  

The participants gained  knowledge of the standarts of the istanbul Protocol in practical exercises in groups,analyzing a number of specific situations. 

As a result of the meeting,it is expected that practical recommendiations will be developed to ensure the principles of the Istanbul Protocol in forensic and law enforcement activities.

Having joinned the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,Inhuman and Degrading,Treatment of Punishment in 1996.Kazakhstan has obligations to prevent torture and to conduct an objecive investigation.In this regard,the state faces the task of bringing investigative procedures and documenting the facts of allegation of torture to international standarts.According to the Prosecutor General's office,in 2017,received 686 complaints of forture,in the first quarter of 2018 there were already 214 complaints.For 4  years in the country,86 officials have been convicted on charges of forture. 

 

for more information,please contact the UNDP Project Manager in Kazakhstan Gulmira Tulesbaeva. (gulmira.tulesbayeva@undp.org)