OSCE Centre in Astana promotes dialogue on further reform of Kazakhstan’s penitentiary system

ASTANA, 23 November 2011 – The future of Kazakhstan’s penal system was the focus of an OSCE-supported conference in Astana today.

The conference provided an opportunity for the government and non-governmental stakeholders to evaluate the state of affairs and provide recommendations with respect to ongoing reforms of Kazakhstan’s penitentiary system. At the conference such issues as alternative measures of punishment, effective prison management and humanization policy were discussed.

The event was organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Interior Ministry, Penal Reform International in Central Asia, UNHCHR/Central Asia, the Soros Foundation – Kazakhstan, and the Legal Policy Research Centre think tank.

Some 70 government officials, judges and NGO participants discussed reform of the penal system in light of anticipated amendments to criminal and penal legislation, and raised topical issues concerning the probation system and public control over penitentiary facilities. The participants also reviewed the implementation of Kazakhstan’s international anti-torture obligations as well as steps taken to establish a National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

International experts from Armenia, the UK and Russia shared their knowledge and experience in prison management, the introduction of probation and alternatives to incarceration, as well as with civil control over places of detention.

"The OSCE is ready to further support the government and civil society’s initiatives aimed at strengthening human rights protections in the penal system," said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Yeskali Salamatov, the Deputy Chair of the Criminal Executive Committee under the Ministry of the Interior, added: "The ongoing reform of the criminal legal system aims to improve both infrastructure and the mechanisms for the protection of inmates’ and prison workers’ rights. All international standards and commitments will be taken into account while formulating the Criminal Executive Committee’s future development strategy."

The event is part of the OSCE Centre’s activities to promote democratic legislative reforms, human rights and the rule of law. The Centre assists the Government of Kazakhstan in bringing its national legislation in line with the country’s international obligations.