OSCE Centre supports Second Penal Reform Forum in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 12 December 2014 – Current challenges in employing prison inmates and ways to facilitating their reintegration into the community were the main topics of the Second Forum on Penitentiary Reform in Kazakhstan held today in Astana.
The event was organized by the Prosecutor General’s Office in partnership with the Interior Ministry, the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Penal Reform International Office in Central Asia with support from the British Embassy in Kazakhstan.
Some 200 high-level government officials, heads of law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, Chairman of the Constitution Council and members of the Supreme Court, legal experts, practicing lawyers and representatives of the business community, international and non-governmental organizations, discussed legal and practical aspects of prison labour and its influence on inmates’ re-socialization as well as measures to increase the number of fully employed convicts. Experts from Germany, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom shared international experience on effective forms of prison labour. Some 400 representatives of law enforcement agencies and regional authorities from across the country participated in the event via video conference.
The policy document, “Employment of Inmates in Correctional Institutions - 2017”, developed by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Interior Ministry was presented at the event. It aims to provide employment opportunities for at least 75% of inmates by 2018. The Forum was followed by a training seminar on practical aspects of inmates’ employment.
“The demilitarization of the prison system and the changing nature of the prison service, prison subculture and mindset is the general trend in the OSCE region,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Much attention is also paid to the development of alternatives to prison sentences to encourage inmates’ early rehabilitation and social integration as well as to the protection of the rights of employees of the correctional services and their professional and personal growth. All these issues have also been actively raised in recent years in Kazakhstan, as exemplified by this forum.”
Askhat Daulbayev, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan said: “According to the Legal Policy Concept for 2010-2020, convicts’ unemployment is one of the most pressing challenges to be addressed in the penal system. Providing prisoners with well-rewarded work and vocational training is a key factor in reducing the prison population as well as crime prevention in general.”
As a result of the discussions, participants agreed on a draft plan of action which, inter alia, foresees relevant changes in current national legislation and government decisions aimed to encourage entrepreneurs and penal institutions to provide opportunities for inmates’ professional training and employment. It will be done within the framework of penal system reform in line with new Criminal-Executive Code, which will enter into force as of 1 January 2015.
The event is part of the Centre’s long-standing efforts to support Kazakhstan’s reform of the criminal justice and penal systems.