July 18 - Nelson Mandela Day

July 18 - Nelson Mandela Day
On the eve of Nelson Mandela Day, international and national organizations, human rights institutions, NHRIs, relevant government agencies and civil monitoring institutions for the observance of the rights of persons in detention, hold a number of events dedicated to this significant date in the UN international calendar.
One of these events is an information campaign, which we want to remind about the steps of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the policy of humanization of criminal justice.
During this week, a number of events have already been held (online) and more are planned, thus we draw attention to the importance of human rights in places of detention.
 
The year 2010 was the starting point for many initiatives, which are now expressed in Decrees, Laws, Regulations, Strategies and Plans.
 
In 2011, there were tragic events that led to the transfer of the prison service to the Ministry of internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
 
Probation as an institution for implementing alternative measures that do not involve isolation from society was discussed long before the law was introduced.
The experience of different countries was studied, and to this day the probation Service is working to improve it. This institution has a century-old history in other countries, and they are still in the process of harmonizing and improving approaches.
 
2013 was the year when the NPM was introduced as an institution for civil monitoring of human rights in places of incarceration.
Equally important was the Concept of "10 measures to reduce the prison population". In General, the 10 steps or measures approach is a very systematic tool that is now leading the country to reduce the prison population. PRI often uses this mechanism in its expert research work.
 
The development of the Codes involved a large number of national experts, NGOs, lawyers, and the DEVELOPMENT of recommendations.
Before the draft laws appeared, a lot of work was done in the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Round tables, Conferences, Forums, Scientific and practical conferences were held.
It is a historical fact that the first approved PEC, and then the criminal code and the criminal procedure code after their return for revision.
Since that time, changes and additions have been made to the Codes by an evolutionary process, but nevertheless the basis is laid in the new versions of 2014.
 

Of the 100 steps of the national Plan, two steps 33 and 34 were identified and focused directly on the work of the penal system.

Further, step 33 contributes to the development of an appropriate Strategy for the re-socialization and reintegration of prisoners into society.

The probation service was strengthened by the new law of the Republic of Kazakhstan, thus for the first time in the CIS countries, a one-stage Institute of alternative measures not related to deprivation of liberty was introduced.

At the moment, the number of people on probation exceeds the number of people in prisons:

at the same time about 30-35 thousand on probation;

and 29 thousand in institutions (IU+jail).

During the year, 60-65 thousand people pass probation records, which is more than 2 times more than in prisons.

The resocialization strategy completed its implementation period in December 2019, showing the UIS, local Executive bodies and all relevant state bodies the mechanism of interaction.

However, when the implementation period expires, the work does not stop. Currently, the following steps are being developed to strengthen the mechanisms of resocialization.

The adopted development Roadmaps are aimed at developing and modernizing the criminal justice system and its approaches to the administration of criminal penalties.

2019 was a key year in setting out the next important development steps.

At the end of the year, a law was adopted that made significant changes to the activities of penal institutions, as well as during the year, changes were made to a number of departmental Orders, including internal regulations, the List of diseases subject to PAROLE.

The legislative work does not stop and will continue as the second stage of the work of the Interdepartmental working group.

The closure of colonies also leads to savings in the state budget and the strengthening of the probation Service.

The year 2020 was not only the 5th year of the introduction of the Nelson Mandela Rules, but also the 10th year since the adoption of the Rules for women offenders.

Chronology of events in the legislative and practical aspects of the activities of the penal system and related to it.

From the point of view of history, this is a small period of time, and from the point of view of events, it is quite significant.

PRI as well as other organizations will continue to provide expert support in maintaining the course of humanization.

Over the years of independence, Kazakhstan has reduced the prison population three times.

Over the past 10 years, more than 2 times. Key to this issue is the Concept of "10 measures to reduce the prison population", the spirit of which is aimed at the widespread introduction of alternative measures not related to incarceration.

 

The link to the website of PRI in Central Asia:  https://www.facebook.com/PenalReformCA