Human rights are at the heart of every speech by the President - Elvira Azimova

Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan Elvira Azimova commented on the annual message of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

"Law and justice should be provided by default": Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan Elvira Azimova commented on the annual address of the President of Kazakhstan K. K. Tokayev.

Elvira Azimova's statement is available on her personal Facebook account at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/elvira.azimova.925/posts/186839936182831

Below is the full text.

«Today, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed a message to the People of Kazakhstan.

It should be noted that human rights, his life, and legitimate interests are at the heart of every speech and address. And the second message was no exception. One of the main messages that was voiced, which I am sure all citizens of Kazakhstan will support: «law And justice should be provided by state bodies and officials by default».

A signal of ineffective work or negligence, violation of the law of officials are the facts of citizens ' appeals to the Head of state.

Torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers and social institutions are no exception.

37 % of all citizens ' complaints to the Human Rights Commissioner relate to the actions of law enforcement agencies, the use of torture and ill-treatment.

Citizens, their relatives and non-governmental organizations report such facts in their appeals. Today the President of the country K. Tokayev pointed out this problem, and voiced concrete proposals to Parliament and instructions to the Government and state Executive bodies for the adoption of a package of legislative and practical measures, including the establishment of CCTV in the "blind" areas of the penitentiary system, administered by the Ministry of the interior.

This applies to all so-called "closed institutions" that a citizen cannot leave at any time, at their own discretion, including medical and social institutions and children's institutions.

Since the beginning of the year, tragic cases of death and other violations of the rights of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and detainees have received public attention.

How to combat this phenomenon, what contribution public monitoring can make, and what violations are most often detected by citizens participating in the National preventive mechanism (this is what public monitoring is called in the format of visits by citizens to closed institutions with the support of the Human Rights Commissioner) - these questions are raised by the Commissioner for human rights and representatives of civil society.

Specific suggestions and recommendations, summarized analytical information provided in the Moi, MLSP, MES, General Prosecutor's office must be carefully considered in the development of legislative initiatives on the prevention and punishment of torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials and social institutions.

Active ombudsmen, human rights defenders and participants in the national preventive mechanism should be actively involved in this process."

Source of information: https://365info.kz/2020/09/prava-cheloveka-lezhat-v-osnove-kazhdogo-obrashheniya-tokaeva-ombudsmen?fbclid=IwAR0MDvf27LyVsoNpW48T3Kd0xb7rX1KDq2emPTJzoOAYDRPxwcUQsAdeKuM