OSCE Programme Office in Astana organizes study visit to Belgium on probation legislation

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Legislative and Judicial Reform Committee of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) with support of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry and Embassy of Belgium in Kazakhstan co-organized a study visit to Belgium from 1 to 4 April 2015.

Parliamentarians and high-level officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Criminal-Executive Committee of the Interior Ministry of Kazakhstan got acquainted with the Belgian Experience in applying probation in line with international standards.

Belgian officials from the Directorate General of Penitentiary Services, Directorate General of Justice Ministry, the Probation Commission of Brussels for the Implementation of Community Service and the National Centre for Electronic Monitoring spoke about the probation service’s structure and management, legal framework and technical maintenance of the electronic monitoring system as well as on measures related to enhancing methods of non-custodial punishment and improving probationary control.

Particular attention was paid to the role and methods of the probation service in preventing crime and limiting the risk of re-offending, including psychosocial support for inmates and ex-convicts aimed at their re-socialization and reintegration into society.

The delegation discussed with the members of the Justice Commission of the National Parliament potential areas of bilateral co-operation, including in the framework of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Kazakhstan’s officials also took part in a monitoring visit to prison in Ittre, where they were introduced to the practical aspects of labour, training and education programmes for offenders. In the last day of their visit, Kazakhstan’s officials will visit the office of the non-governmental organization Defence for Children International where they will discuss the issues of juvenile justice, including mediation and community service for young offenders, were discussed.

This visit is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to support Kazakhstan’s authorities and civil society in the ongoing criminal justice and penitentiary reforms.