Political and human rights reforms in Kazakhstan presented at the OSCE in Warsaw

Political and human rights reforms in Kazakhstan presented at the OSCE in Warsaw

The annual meeting of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) to review the implementation of human dimension commitments started in Warsaw on September 16, 2019.

The event was attended by around 2,000 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations, from across the OSCE’s 57 OSCE member states.

The agenda of the meeting included respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE region with an emphasis on the right to freedom of expression, the media and information, the right to freedom of religion, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, the rule of law, anti-torture, and non-discrimination.

The Kazakh delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Social Development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Central Election Commission.

The meeting was opened by OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, as well as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Gigi Tsereteli and heads of the OSCE institutions.

At the opening of the meeting, the head of the Kazakh delegation, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Usen Suleimen made a statement informing the audience about the approval of the National Plan of Actions for the implementation of the President’s State of the Nation Address, which provides for a number of specific measures, including in the field of human rights and further development of civil society.

It was noted that the plan provided for measures to reinforce criminal legislation on serious crimes, introduce administrative justice, support small and medium-sized businesses, adjust social policies, improve the quality of education, and provide Kazakh citizens with the possibility of using pension savings. The plan also includes measures aimed at financing the initiatives voiced in the Address, including the allocation of funds for reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, raising the salaries of teachers and cultural and art workers, implementing business support programs, and developing infrastructure.

During the first day of the meeting, the Kazakh delegation also took part in a debate with the participation of representatives of the Kazakh civil sector.