Implementation of the initiatives of President K. Tokayev in the field of human rights protection in the spotlight of the Geneva platform
Geneva, April 21-25, 2022 – During the visit to Geneva, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ms. Elvira Azimova held a number of meetings at the UN office and with representatives of international human rights organizations.
On the eve of consideration of the periodic report of Kazakhstan at the 106th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a meeting was held with members of this treaty body. During the meeting, the Committee members expressed interest in discussing the measures taken to strengthen the national human rights system and citizens' access to justice. The Commissioner informed about the initiatives of the President of the country to strengthen the powers of the Prosecutor's Office to investigate cases of torture, giving citizens, the Commissioner and the Prosecutor General the right to appeal to the Constitutional Court and other initiatives to strengthen the political rights of citizens and build a "New Kazakhstan". The participants of the meeting discussed in detail the legislative guarantees and the situation of responding to complaints about violations of rights and taking measures.
On April 21 and 22, Ms. Azimova also participated as an observer in the process of the Committee's consideration of Kazakhstan's report.
Also during her visit to Geneva on April 21, Commissioner Ms. Azimova discussed with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Michelle Bachelet topical issues of the human rights situation in our country and key aspects of technical cooperation in order to implement the reforms proposed by President K.Tokayev in this direction.
The High Commissioner commended Kazakhstan's adoption of the law on the Ombudsman at the end of last year and noted that this measure will contribute to the full implementation of our country's obligations in the field of human rights. At the same time, M. Bachelet expressed gratitude to the Commissioner and the participants of the National Preventive Mechanism for the work carried out during the tragic events of January.
Ms. Azimova informed about the progress of the investigation of the tragic events and the measures taken by her office to protect the rights of victims and detainees. In order to eliminate problematic issues in the implementation of the country's obligations, she noted the importance of expert assistance to law enforcement agencies from the UN in the form of appropriate training sessions. In addition, the Commissioner reported on the consideration by the Parliament of the law on public control, which is currently being actively discussed in the civil sector, and called on the Office of the High Commissioner to submit recommendations for compliance with its international norms and standards.
The High Commissioner confirmed the readiness of the Office and its institutions to provide Kazakhstan and the Commissioner for Human Rights with the necessary expert support, especially in the light of the implementation of the initiatives of President K.Tokayev in order to protect human rights and strengthen guarantees for the realization of political rights.
Commissioner Ms. Azimova also held bilateral meetings with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association Mr. Klement Voule and the Chairman of the working group on arbitrary detention Ms. Elina Steinert.
The participants of the meetings, in the light of the large-scale investigation of the January events in Kazakhstan, discussed the issue of compliance of the actions of law enforcement agencies with international legal norms, and also exchanged views on improving the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the right to peaceful assembly, law enforcement response measures in the event of peaceful assemblies escalating into mass riots, as well as the conditions of detention of persons.
In this vein, the UN experts expressed the hope that the investigation of state bodies will be impartial and transparent, as well as officials guilty of human rights violations and ill-treatment of detainees will be brought to justice. Representatives of the UN human rights mechanisms called on the Commissioner and the NPM participants to continue working in this direction and to assist in the restoration of violated human rights.
In connection with the visit of Commissioner Ms. Azimova to Geneva, leading international human rights organizations, such as the International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, on April 25, 2022 organized another event in the format of an open dialogue on the investigation of the January events in the country, as well as on some specific issues related to the right to a fair trial and the position of lawyers. Representatives of domestic NGOs also took part in this meeting.
Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Azimova called on the participants of the meeting for constructive cooperation and joint work to have a positive impact on improving the work of law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan.
The event allowed to exchange views on the most resonant events and acute problems, to outline steps for further joint work in the field of strengthening the system of human rights protection and the rule of law in Kazakhstan.
In addition, during her visit, Ms. Azimova took part in the opening of a joint photo exhibition of the Permanent Missions of Kazakhstan and Canada "Ordinary things", dedicated to the topic of domestic violence. The exhibition tells about the real stories of Kazakhstani women who faced violence. The Commissioner for Human Rights of Kazakhstan informed the participants of the exhibition about the state policy for the protection of women's rights and noted the need to regularly talk on this topic in order to develop a total zero tolerance for this problem in society.