OSCE Centre supports training event on ethics and prevention of judicial corruption in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 17 November 2014 - An OSCE-supported training seminar and roundtable discussion on ethics and the prevention of corruption in the judicial system began today in Astana.

Experts from the Office for Preventing and Combating Corruption of Latvia, UNODC and Venice Commission as well as national experts from “Transparency Kazakhstan” and the Sange Research Centre will acquaint over 80 judges from the Supreme Court and regional courts from across the country with best international practices and standards of judicial behaviour and professional ethics and innovative approaches to the prevention of corruption in the judiciary.

They will also present the findings of the study on the assessment of the degree of transparency and the level of public satisfaction with the activities of judges in Kazakhstan. The participants will also discuss the issues of independence of the judiciary and the prevention of conflicts of interest, review the current Code of Judicial Ethics of Kazakhstan and develop a set of recommendations for the new draft Code of Ethics.

“The fight against corruption cannot be successful without the political will and close co-operation, both internationally and domestically. That is why the OSCE pays special attention to the creation of an atmosphere of intolerance to any manifestations of corruption and strives to improve the professional ethics of civil servants and judges through educational and training programmes, the exchange of good international experience, the improvement of policy and legal instruments, the utilisation of civil society and the enhanced collaboration of all participating States in the this area.” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Adil Kurkbayev, Acting Chairman of the supervisory judicial board on criminal cases of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan said: “The issue of ethics in judicial activity is extremely relevant today. It is difficult to talk about justice without involving ethics. Only the professionalism and ethics in judicial enforcement will provide true justice”.

The two-day event, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Supreme Court, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. It is part of the Centre’s multi-year activities in supporting good governance and anti-corruption efforts and is aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary and strengthen the rule of law in the host country.