OSCE's human rights chief visits Central Asia
ODIHR Director Christian Strohal visits Central Asia to discuss democratic reform and human rights. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
WARSAW, 6 June 2003 - Ambassador Christian Strohal, the Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, left for a four-day visit to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan today.
During his visit to the two Central Asian states, the first since he took office this spring, Ambassador Strohal will meet government and civil society representatives to discuss the democratic reform processes and human rights situation in both countries, as well as preparations for the forthcoming cycle of elections in the region.
In Kazakhstan, the first stop of his visit, the ODIHR Director will address the Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum organized by the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly in Almaty on 7-9 June.
The ODIHR delegation also hopes to visit Sergei Duvanov, the Kazakh journalist and human rights defender who was sentenced to several years in prison earlier this year following a trial that was characterized as seriously flawed by observers. The ODIHR and the OSCE's Representative on Freedom of the Media have repeatedly called for the release of Mr. Duvanov, whose case is currently under review.
The ODIHR supports the OSCE participating States in Central Asia in building democratic institutions and improving the protection of human rights with a number of assistance programmes.
During his visit to the two Central Asian states, the first since he took office this spring, Ambassador Strohal will meet government and civil society representatives to discuss the democratic reform processes and human rights situation in both countries, as well as preparations for the forthcoming cycle of elections in the region.
In Kazakhstan, the first stop of his visit, the ODIHR Director will address the Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum organized by the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly in Almaty on 7-9 June.
The ODIHR delegation also hopes to visit Sergei Duvanov, the Kazakh journalist and human rights defender who was sentenced to several years in prison earlier this year following a trial that was characterized as seriously flawed by observers. The ODIHR and the OSCE's Representative on Freedom of the Media have repeatedly called for the release of Mr. Duvanov, whose case is currently under review.
The ODIHR supports the OSCE participating States in Central Asia in building democratic institutions and improving the protection of human rights with a number of assistance programmes.