OSCE supports discussion of draft laws on access to information and countering corruption
ASTANA, 27 February 2015 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on developing national legislation on access to information, countering corruption and public oversight took place today in Astana. The event was initiated by the Legal Council of National Democratic Party Nur Otan and co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Prosecutor General’s Office with the support of the Legal Policy Research Centre, Internews-Kazakhstan and Soros Foundation - Kazakhstan.
The event brought together some 70 participants including parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of civil society, journalists, national legal and economic consultants as well as international experts from Latvia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The participants discussed ways to improve national anti-corruption legislation, to advance political accountability and to develop effective access to information policies as well as recommendations made by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in 2012-2013 regarding access to information draft legislation taking into account current trends and challenges in Kazakhstan.
The anti-corruption package of laws was developed in line with the country’s national strategy aimed to conduct effective anti-corruption reforms with real community participation that was approved in December 2014. The adoption of the laws on access to information, countering corruption and public oversight is also relevant in view of Kazakhstan’s plans to enter the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).
“The OSCE attaches great importance to combating corruption in the context of maintaining stability and security in each country and the region in general. The development and adoption of laws on countering corruption and access to information correspond to the commitments of Kazakhstan of transparency and good governance through enhancing the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, which affects not only individuals, but the state as a whole,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.
Nurlan Abdirov, member of the Parliament and the Head of the Legal Council of the Nur Otan Party, said: “In pursuit of the National Anti-corruption Strategy until 2025 and following the recommendations of international organizations, in particular the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), OSCE and GRECO, Kazakhstan is planning to adopt 13 new laws aimed at combating corruption in all of its manifestations. The law ‘On access to information’ will strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms and ensure public oversight over state matters.”
As a result of the roundtable discussion a set of recommendations concerning improvement of the draft laws was developed for Parliamentarians and state institutions. The event is a part of the OSCE Office’s multiyear efforts to assist the host country in developing relevant legislation on access to information and improve the current legal framework for countering corruption.