TABLE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PACKAGE OF POLITICAL REFORMS, INITIATED BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. KASSYM-JOMART TOKAYEV, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

No.

REFORMS ANNOUNCED BY THE PRESIDENT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS

INITIATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

1.     

Improving the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on rallies (peaceful assemblies)

> The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the procedure for organizing and holding peaceful assemblies in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,                on 25 May 2020.
 > The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On amendments to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the organization and holding peaceful assemblies in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on 25 May 2020.

2.     

Accession to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the Covenant is a multilateral treaty adopted by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 1966, and in force from 23 March 1976) aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (The Second Optional Protocol is created on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991.)

> The Draft Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Signing the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty” was tabled and presently is pending approval by the state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

> The planned period for signing the Presidential Decree is June 2020.

3.     

Development of multi-party system, political competition and pluralism of opinions / reform of the current political system

> The Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to the Constitutional Law on Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan” and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to the Law "On Political Parties" regarding the reduction of the registration barrier for political parties (from 40,000 to 20,000 members) and the introduction 30% quota for women and youth in party electoral lists, was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on 25 May 2020.

> The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Committees and Commissions of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan” on the Matters of Parliamentary Opposition” and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Status of its Members”, which will establish and strengthen the innovative institution of parliamentary opposition in the Republic of Kazakhstan, was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on 25 May 2020.

4.     

Strengthening the civil society

> The Concept for Development of Civil Society in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2025 was tabled and submitted for approval to the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

> The Amendments to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on non-profit organizations were tabled;

> The Amendments to the Law “On the Order of Public Social Procurement, as well as Grants and Awards for NGOs in the Republic of Kazakhstan” were tabled as well.

5.     

Modifying the legislation on trade unions

> The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Labour Matters” lists was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on              4 May 2020.

> In accordance with this Law, amendments have been made to the activities of trade unions: the vertical association of trade unions has been eliminated; the National Entrepreneurship Chamber ‘Atameken’ has been excluded from the social partnership system; responsibility for calls for illegal strikes has been softened; the registration procedure of trade unions has been streamlined;

> This work was carried out to implement the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) recommendations reflected in the Road Map of 14 May 2018, decisions of the 108^th session of the International Labour Conference, as well as recommendations, adopted by the results of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the national reports, presented and defended in the relevant UN Committees.

6.     

Decriminalization of defamation (libel)

> The Amendments to Decriminalize the Article 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan entitled “Defamation” (“Libel”) and transfer it into the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan were  tabled and introduced.

> It was done in the framework of the bill “On Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Enforcement Proceedings” (this bill is presently under consideration by the Senate of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

7.     

Increased penalties for sexual violence, paedophilia, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other serious crimes, especially crime against children

> To implement this initiative, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Improvement of Criminal, Criminal Procedure Legislation and Strengthening the Protection of Personal Rights” was adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and signed by H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on 30 December 2019.

8.     

Continued deep reforms of the judicial and law enforcement systems

> To establish the administrative justice in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Administrative Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been tabled and introduced (pending to approval);

> As part of the Programme of Modernization of the Kazakhstani Internal Affairs bodies for 2019-2021, it is planned to scrutinize the transferring from the Interior Ministry to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan the matters, related to ensuring medical supplies for convicts.

> Other measures in this vein are also on the table.

9.     

Improving the legislation on local government and self-government in the Republic of Kazakhstan

> The Amendments to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on local government and self-government in the Republic of Kazakhstan were tabled and to be introduced.