OSCE Centre promotes democratic principles in police activities in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 24 June 2008 - Interaction with civil society and promotion of democratic principles in Kazakhstan's law enforcement were the focus of an OSCE conference today in Astana.
Some fifty participants from state law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and diplomatic missions discussed ways to improve police activities through more effective co-operation with civil society, further legislative reforms and protection of human rights.
"Strengthening the democratic principles on which the work of law enforcement is based will help guarantee effectiveness," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "We hope that through joint efforts we will succeed in bringing the work of the police in accordance with international standards, including in the sphere of human rights protection."
"Interior affairs bodies are committed to principles of democracy, to improving public confidence in the police," said Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov, Minister of Internal Affairs. "I am sure that Kazakhstan's 2010 Chairmanship in the OSCE will serve as another important instrument in promoting democracy in the work of law enforcement bodies not only of our country, but of the Central Asian region as a whole."
The conference on "Improvement of Activities of Interior Bodies: Democratic Principles and the Role of the Civil Society" was held in co-operation with Kazakhstan's Internal Affairs Ministry and NGO partners the Legal Policy Research Centre and Charter for Human Rights.
The event is part of the OSCE Police Development Co-operation Project conducted by the Centre jointly with the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit in Vienna and Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry.