International conference was held
On April 22, 2022, the International conference entitled “Constitutional and International Aspects of the Upholding of the Rule of Law”, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's accession to the UN and the 10th anniversary of Kazakhstan's accession to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe was held.
The forum was organized in a hybrid format by the Constitutional Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation, the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute, the UN Office in Kazakhstan and the Venice Commission.
The work of the conference was opened by the Chairman of the Constitutional Council Kairat Mami. He noted that cooperation with the UN and the Venice Commission plays a strategically important role in the modern history of Kazakhstan. For 30 years, UN programs have supported the progressive development of our country in many areas, including the protection of human rights, based on fundamental legal documents, many of whose ideas are reflected in the Basic Law of our country. The Speaker also stressed that when making final decisions, that the Constitutional Council has always taken into account the provisions of the international instruments of the United Nations that have been universally recognized and ratified by Kazakhstan.
“Being our partner for 10 years, the Venice Commission plays a huge role in the development of constitutionalism in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has repeatedly referred to the Commission as an independent advisory body for opinions on constitutional reforms and draft individual legislative acts. The recommendations of the Venice Commission are being gradually implemented in our country,” said the Chairman of the Constitutional Council.
Kairat Mami also touched upon the reforms in the field of further strengthening of human rights institutions, announced by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address to the people of Kazakhstan, in particular, the initiative to establish a Constitutional Court, with the assignment of the Prosecutor General, the Commissioner for Human Rights and citizens with the right to apply to a new body.
Distinguished guests welcomed the conference participants: Chef de Cabinet to the Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva David Chikvaidze, President of the Venice Commission Claire Bazy Malaurie, UN Resident Coordinator for Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey, Minister of Justice of the Republic Kanat Mussin, the European Union Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas, as well as the Consul General of France in Almaty Alexis Shakhtakhtinsky.
The First Deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Akan Rakhmetullin, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, member of the Venice Commission on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan Igor Rogov, member of the Constitutional Council Unzila Shapak, Chairman of the Commission on Pardon under the President of the Republic Marat Bashimov, as well as experts from the UN and the Venice Commission addressed the plenary session to summarize the results of the fruitful partnership.
At the end of the conference, the participants noted the importance of further close collaboration and implementation of rule of law programmes. Representatives of the United Nations and the Venice Commission welcomed the ongoing reforms and expressed their readiness to support Kazakhstan in the implementation of these initiatives.