OSCE presents community policing approach in multi-ethnic society in Nur-Sultan

On 3 September 2019, some 40 representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, police, NGOs and representatives of the diplomatic corps participated in an event on inclusive and effective community policing in multi-ethnic societies. The event took place in the framework of the visit to Kazakhstan of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Lamberto Zannier.

The workshop was organized by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan.

The HCNM presented the Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies and the recent Graz Recommendations on Access to Justice and National Minorities. Representatives of the TNTD offered an overview of the community policing approach as well as its work in police reform processes across the OSCE area.

The discussion touched upon the importance of promoting a trust relationship between the police and the communities they serve. Participants discussed the need to engage all stakeholders in the dialogue. They also highlighted the importance of encouraging members of national minorities to access the police service.

The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Alexey Kalaichidi, underlined the importance of the OSCE’s support in relation to the ongoing police reform in multi-ethnic societies of Kazakhstan. He expressly welcomed international advice and support in this long-term process.

The High Commissioner on National Minorities, Lamberto Zannier, emphasized that “in multi-ethnic societies such as Kazakhstan, it is important that law-enforcement agencies not only reflect the ethnic diversity of society, but are also trained to operate effectively in multi-ethnic environments together with the communities involved”.

The workshop is part of the OSCE strategy to promote and assist participating States in their community policing efforts.