The international expert community highly praised Kazakhstan’s positive efforts in the field of human rights
On the eve of the International Human Rights Day, by the initiative of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights under the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan a briefing «Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy plane. The role of justice, protection and promotion of human rights» was held in Astana. The event was part of the celebration of the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The CC Chairperson Elvira Azimova, the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Igor Rogov and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko addressed the participants with welcoming words, highlighting the significant role of Kazakhstan in Central Asia in carrying out large-scale democratic and political reforms, as well as in the ongoing initiatives to protect human rights.
The dialog platform, dedicated to discussing issues of various sectors of human rights protection, brought together representatives of regional key bodies such as the UN, OSCE, UNDP, IOM, UNODC, UNICEF and the European Union Delegation. In the frame of agenda, the topical issues related to the role of justice in peace and the importance of promoting human rights against the backdrop of current global challenges and prospects for sustainable development has been discussed.
The CC Chairperson Elvira Azimova noted that the Constitutional Court in its activity shows a firm commitment to the principles of the rule of law and protection of human rights. The importance of the realization of this policy becomes especially important in the conditions of global changes, emerging risks for the participants of the world community. According to the head of the CC, timely response to legal challenges and respect for the law is an essential contribution to the sustainable development of the state and society.
During the briefing, representatives of the international expert community noted Kazakhstan's active initiatives in the field of human rights protection, which demonstrates the country's desire to create a fair and open society and readiness to cooperate.
Michaela Friberg Storey, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Kazakhstan:
«Human rights are at the core of Sustainable development, and permeate all aspects of UN work both globally and in Kazakhstan. The UN in Kazakhstan focuses on empowering people, strengthen institutions and build an inclusive sustainable economy
The UN has supported Kazakhstan with many legal texts to enhance the human rights dimensions and strengthen the social contract».
Terhi Hakala, Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia:
«Most of the Central Asian countries are currently implementing major constitutional reforms. In Kazakhstan, this new Constitutional Court welcoming us today is a direct result of these important reforms, which aims, inter alia, to streamline the constitutional proceedings and introduce individual access to the Constitutional Court.
I believe that this important event today will give additional incentives to continue the reform process aimed at improving the national human rights protection mechanisms, for the benefit of all citizens. Furthermore, I am pleased to inform that the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan will benefit from the support of the EU’s TAIEX program through the organization of two workshops – both on "Constitutional Complaints and Access to Constitutional Justice" and on "Enhancing professional development in the conduct of constitutional proceedings." These initiatives aim to fortify the constitutional processes in Kazakhstan, fostering an environment where justice is not only served but is understood and accessible».
Laetitia Bazzi-Veil, Acting Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan:
«, I would like to express gratitude to the Constitutional Court of the RK for paying particular attention to the rights of child in Kazakhstan. I would also like to express sincere appreciation of the work by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan towards ratification of the Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure. I believe that series of important steps undertaken by Kazakhstan including adoption of the 2023-2025 Complex Plan to Prevent Violence against Children and Suicides will improve protection of the rights of children in Kazakhstan and will contribute to achieving the relevant SDGs».
Dr. Volker Frobarth, Ambassador, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana:
«For the next year OSCE Office plans to support the Constitutional Court within the providing an expert suuport and exchange of best practices of international and national constitutional justice through the capasity building trainings for the Court staff involved in the organization and preparation of proceedings on appeals of subjects, support for the training of the legal community in the field of processing of citizens' appeals».
Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Kazakhstan:
«In the current situation, against the backdrop of numerous challenges of geopolitical, social, economic, and climatic nature, the Constitutional Court, the judicial, and law enforcement systems serve as guarantors of protecting the rights of citizens. The current statistics of appeals to the judicial bodies and the Constitutional Court underscore the need to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement agencies and improve the quality of judicial decisions, considering the constitutionality of existing and adopted laws. The United Nations Development Programme is deeply committed to providing support to Kazakhstan in strengthening its legal framework and human rights mechanisms to ensure the rights and freedoms of individuals, leaving no one behind».
Zeynal Hajiyev, Head of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration:
«IOM welcomes Kazakhstan’s commitment towards implementation of GCM manifested inter-alia in adoption of a concept of national migration policy. IOM remains committed to support the GoKz in in achieving set in the concept objectives».
Madina Sarieva, Acting Head of the Office of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime:
«UNODC has been providing assistance to Member States in strengthening judicial integrity, accountability and professionalism, in line with the requirements of Article 11 of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and by supporting the development of the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct and producing various tools to help judiciaries to that effect. To this end, UNODC launched the Global Judicial Integrity Network in April 2018 at the UN Office in Vienna, with the participation of chief justices, presidents of supreme and constitutional courts and other high-ranking judges from more than 100 countries».