OSCE Centre concludes project on strengthening Ombudsman Institution in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 11 November 2011 – Results of an OSCE project supporting the Ombudsman Institution in Kazakhstan were presented in Astana today.
The event was organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana as part of a project in support to the National Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Kazakhstan to enhance the Institution’s organizational and technical capacity and expanding its outreach in the regions, as well as raising public awareness on the role of the Ombudsman in protecting citizens’ rights.
The meeting brought together more than 70 participants from the parliament, government agencies, non-governmental and international organizations, diplomatic community and the media, who discussed the results and recommendations stemmed from the project activities conducted in the capital and in Kazakhstan’s regions.
One of the main project outcomes was a manual for effective handling of citizens’ complaints. The publication was developed jointly by national and international experts and published in Kazakh and Russian languages.
Jeannette Kloetzer, Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, expressed hope that “the results and recommendations of the project will strengthen the Ombudsman Institution and contribute to further promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms in Kazakhstan in accordance with its OSCE commitments”.
Ambassador Askar Shakirov, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “The Ombudsman Institution has benefited from the international expertise offered by the OSCE Centre in Astana under the project, and we intend to continue the dialogue and interaction with state agencies, civil society and international organizations in order to enhance the implementation of citizens’ rights in compliance with international standards.”
The event participants highlighted the importance to promote the integration of Ombudsman into the international network of human rights institutions, and maintain the practice of sharing experience established during study visits to Hungary and Austria organized by the OSCE Centre in October last year.
The project was made possible with the support of the governments of Kazakhstan, Denmark and Germany.