OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension Meeting completed its work in Warsaw
The annual Meeting of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE ODIHR) completed its work in the capital of Poland.
During the last week of the forum, participants discussed the rule of law, including judicial independence, democratic legislation, tolerance, non-discrimination and hate crimes.
Kazakhstan's delegation, consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Information and Social Development, and the General Prosecutor's Office, participated in the forum.
In his speech, representative of the General Prosecutor's Office E. Zhakupov noted that in recent years Kazakhstan has carried out extensive work to create a new law that meets high international standards and interests of our society. Consolidation and implementation of the rule of law principles and strengthening the role of civil society institutions have determined the need for new generation legislative acts.
Representative of the Ministry of Justice A. Imangaliyeva shared with the participants information on current implementation of Green and White Papers in Kazakhstan's legislative process based on the UK experience, where the views of each citizen will be taken into account at all stages of the development of the bill.
Kazakh human rights activists A. Ibrayeva and Y. Zhovtis, as part of an additional event titled “Fundamental Freedoms in Court: the Impact of Excessively Broad Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Extremism Legislation on Human Rights”, shared the recommendations to streamline the activities in this area. Chair of the Shyrak public association L. Kaltayeva shared the experience of Kazakhstan in ensuring voting conditions for people with disabilities during elections within the framework of the side event titled “Promoting the Participation of People with Disabilities in Political and Public Life”.
Moreover, as a part of the forum, Kazakh human rights activists held side events on other topics such as “Violation of Human Rights by a Single Religious Organization” and “Fundamental Human Freedoms in Kazakhstan: Were There Any Changes in 2019?”
The purpose of side events was to bring attention of the international community to the issue of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ disregard for human rights in Kazakhstan, as well as providing human rights activists with experience in protecting the rights of detainees, exercising the right to peaceful assembly and digital rights in Kazakhstan.
Extensive discussions were held on the issues of transparency of legislation, freedom of expression, religion, assembly and association, various aspects of penal enforcement policies, gender equality and democratic elections in the OSCE space.
Discussions in the format of plenary meetings and side events have traditionally been marked by relevance, urgency and, according to the prevailing opinion, have been very useful.
During the final session of the meeting, participants summed up the working sessions in the field of human dimension, as well as on chosen subjects, and discussed the results and recommendations carried out during the period of two weeks of the meeting.