OSCE Centre co-organizes annual seminar of Kazakhstan’s Aarhus Centres Network

BOROVOE, Kazakhstan, 7 October 2014 – More than 30 representatives of Aarhus Centres from across the country, the Energy Ministry, the Supreme Court as well as civil society took part in a two-day workshop, which concluded today in Borovoe.

Participants of the workshop, which was co-organized by the OSCE Centre and the National Aarhus Centre with the support of the Energy Ministry, discussed the ways and means to improve Kazakhstan’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (also known as the Aarhus Convention). They reviewed a draft strategy and action plan for the Aarhus Centre Network based on national and international experience.

Participants exchanged experiences and shared views on environmental challenges in their respective regions. They developed a set of recommendations to be considered by the relevant authorities ahead of the next national report on the fulfillment of Kazakhstan’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention.

Leading national experts also acquainted participants with the potential of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, ways to enhance energy efficiency, the influence of legislation and information on the Aarhus Centres’ activities, and the results of the 22nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, which focused on responses to environmental challenges with a view to promoting co-operation and security in the OSCE area.

“Our organization views the Aarhus Convention as an effective tool to promote environmental democracy and supports its full implementation in the OSCE area,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Therefore, our activities are aimed at strengthening mutually-beneficial co-operation at the national and regional levels as well as ensuring equal participation of all representatives of society in decisions on environmental matters.”

Vladimir Borissov, Supreme Court Judge on Civil and Administrative Law Cases, said: “One of the main recent accomplishments was the establishment of Aarhus Centres Network. They have to cope with concrete tasks and achieve tangible results. We need now to analyze the first results of their activities in order to ensure further progress in the implementation of the Aarhus Convention.”

Kazakhstan ratified the UNECE Aarhus Convention in 2000 and currently supports 15 Aarhus Centres in different regions of the country, assisting in its implementation.

The Aarhus Convention is a key UN document on access to environmental information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Aarhus Centres set up with OSCE support serve as a link between the Government and non-governmental organizations, provide a platform for coalition-building and partnership among NGOs in addressing environmental issues, and promote the Aarhus Convention principles at national and local levels.

The event is part of the Centre’s long-term efforts in promoting implementation of the international standards of the Convention.