THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE NPM PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TERRITORIAL BODIES OF THE WEST KAZAKHSTAN AND KARAGANDA REGIONS THE RESULTS OF MONITORING THE OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE REGIONS

THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE NPM PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TERRITORIAL BODIES OF THE WEST KAZAKHSTAN AND KARAGANDA REGIONS THE RESULTS OF MONITORING THE OBSERVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE REGIONS

On July 9 of this year, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan E. A. Azimova and the participants of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) presented to the heads of state bodies of the West Kazakhstan and Karaganda regions the results of monitoring of state institutions providing special social services to citizens, special institutions under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies and institutions of the penitentiary system in two regions.

Currently, the total number of institutions of the two regions covered by the NPM mandate is - 561 (for the West Kazakhstan region-221; for the Karaganda region-340).

The discussion of the identified violations and recommendations for improving the situation was held in an online format.

During the meeting in the West Kazakhstan region, the participants of the NPM paid special attention to the results of monitoring in 2019 and 2020 of the facts of ill-treatment as a result of mass searches in one of the institutions of the penitentiary system in 2019 and 2020. Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office of the region informed about the measures taken, including taking into account the reports of convicts and the results of meetings in the first quarter of 2020 of the Commissioner and participants of the NPM with the leadership of the Committee of the Criminal Executive System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office, the health and social service departments of the region, the National Guard of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In particular, measures were taken to investigate these facts criminally, punish the perpetrators, up to the dismissal of managers and employees of the relevant bodies, changes were made to departmental orders to prevent such cases.

The participants of the NPM of the two regions also reported violations in social institutions related to the conditions of stay of citizens. They voiced their recommendations for the prevention of such violations.

Unfortunately, representatives of the Akimat of the West Kazakhstan region did not take part in the regional meeting, even though some of the recommendations related to the insufficient allocation of funds from the local budget for the maintenance of these institutions. Every year, the NPM participants in their recommendations indicate the inadmissibility of such an approach, which entails the risk of systemic violations of human rights. During the meeting in the Karaganda region, the participants of the NPM drew attention to the need for regular training of employees of state bodies and institutions in the field of human rights, informing about the obligations assumed by Kazakhstan within the framework of international UN treaties. They expressed their readiness to hold educational meetings with employees of institutions.

Following the results of two regional meetings, the heads of territorial bodies and institutions agreed with the voiced recommendations. Monitoring of institutions within the framework of the NPM will continue. It should be noted that earlier the discussion of the monitoring results within the framework of the NPM was held only at the national level. The regional format, at the initiative of the Commissioner, has been additionally introduced since 2021. This approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the detected violations at both the central and local levels. NPM participants can also receive feedback from the administrations of institutions and territorial bodies.

The text of the Consolidated Report on the results of activities in 2019-2020 will be published after the completion of all regional meetings.

For reference: By national legislation, NPM participants annually prepare a consolidated report on the results of their monitoring visits to institutions. NPM participants make such visits regularly, including based on complaints about specific human rights violations. The main purpose of the NPM's activity is to report violations if they are detected and to prevent subsequent violations, including through making recommendations for improving legislation and law enforcement practice. The administrative responsibility of officials is provided for obstructing the activities of NPM participants as one of the forms of independent public control.