Transparency of courts of great importance for building public confidence, says Head of OSCE Centre in Astana
ASTANA, 19 May 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar to build capacity of the court system’s press services in public outreach at the central and regional levels began today in Astana.
The two-day event was co-organized by the Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Supreme Court and the International Foundation for Freedom of Speech Adil Soz. Some 35 court press service representatives and journalists from the northern regions of Kazakhstan will learn about international standards of freedom of speech and access to information. Thirty-two court press officers from nine regions will also participate in the seminar via video conference. They will discuss communications strategies, media relations and interaction between court press services and journalists reporting on judicial issues.
“The efficient work of the court press services and their interaction with journalists ensure the transparency of the court system, provide reliable communications between the courts and improve the image of judiciary at large in society,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the Centre in Astana.
Supreme Court judges alongside international and local experts will help the participants improve practical skills in preparing press releases and other messages to mass media as well as in delivering public presentations.
Akyltay Kasimov, the Chair of the Supervisory Judicial Board on criminal cases said: “Increasing efficiency of and strengthening the public confidence in the servants of Themis are among our priorities. The quality of justice comes first and is of key importance.”
A second seminar is planned for August in Almaty. It builds on the efforts of the Centre’s activities in the field of access to information and press freedom.