OSCE Centre concludes series of anti-trafficking seminars for judges in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 11 November 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar for judges from regional courts on good practices in dealing with human trafficking cases began today in Astana.
The two-day event concludes a series of nine training seminars for judges from across the country co-organized this year by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Civil Service Academy under the President, the Supreme Court and the US Embassy in Kazakhstan.
Some 400 judges of city, district and regional courts learned about best practices and international experience in dealing with human trafficking cases from leading experts from Moldova, Turkey and Serbia. International experts also presented principles and approaches that are applied by the judiciary to a particular human trafficking victim in the framework of national referral mechanism.
Prominent legal experts from Kazakhstan acquainted the participants with good judicial practices in reviewing criminal trafficking cases, challenging aspects of proof in courts and tools to properly categorize crimes as well as effective ways to integrate international legal anti-trafficking tools into law enforcement and judicial practice. Representatives of Kazakhstan’s non-governmental organizations shared their experience in assisting victims of human trafficking and cruel treatment.
“The rule of law is a key element in ensuring effective investigation and punishment for crimes of this kind. In this connection, the OSCE Centre supports Kazakhstan’s efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking by conducting training seminars aimed to improve professional skills in both criminal and administrative cases,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.
Murat Beibitov, Director of the Institute of Justice of the Public Administration Academy, said: “Reviewing judicial practices in human trafficking cases is an effective way to improve the quality of judicial decisions. These seminars support local judges in enhancing capacity building of their local judicial practice.”
Since 2010, the OSCE Centre in Astana has supported training seminars for judges aimed to strengthen the protection of human trafficking victims and provide them with access to justice. As a result of this multi-year project, judges and experts that took part in its activities were also able to contribute to the development of and the adoption of the Supreme Court Normative Resolution "On Application of Legislation on Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings" as well as submit their proposals to draft legislation on human trafficking that was adopted in 2012.
These events are part of the Centre’s longstanding efforts to assist in implementing the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.