OSCE Centre in Astana organizes discussion of Kazakhstan penal reform

ASTANA, 14 August 2008 - Ways to improve the Kazakhstan penitentiary system and penal legislation is the focus of a discussion in Astana today.

The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the local non-governmental organization the Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC) in the framework of an OSCE-funded project on strengthening legal policy dialogue in Kazakhstan.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Prosecutor-General's Office, the Justice Ministry, the Constitutional Council, the Supreme Court, the Commission for Human Rights, and Parliament, as well as experts from local and international NGOs, scholars and lawyers.

"The OSCE welcomes Kazakhstan's recent efforts to improve the penitentiary system. At the same time, more needs to be done to further develop the legislation, the medical care system for prisoners, and the interaction and co-operation with civil society," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre.

"It is necessary to ensure maximum transparency of all penitentiary facilities and guarantee the rights of prisoners in accordance with international human rights standards."

Vera Tkachenko, LPRC Director, added: "From 2000 to 2004, Kazakhstan has accomplished several legislative and institutional reforms that allowed prison conditions to be improved considerably. However, there is concern over the growth of prisoners in the past two years and the lack of probation services and a system of alternative punishments. There is a need for a balanced, consistent penal policy under the Justice Ministry's civil unit which could be elaborated in close co-operation with civil society to tackle current problems and to adequately respond to challenges ahead."

Meeting participants will also discuss issues relating to the introduction and development of a probation system, an alternative to imprisonment punishments and restrictive measures for less serious crimes, as well as the creation of an independent state agency that would run the penitentiary system in the country.

A number of recommendations are expected to be proposed to the main stakeholders to reform criminal legislation and develop alternative punishments in light of expected administrative reforms in Kazakhstan.