OSCE co-organizes training course in Kazakhstan on best practices in combating corruption in the judiciary

ASTANA, 24 February 2016 - An OSCE-supported training course for some 30 judges and representatives of regional courts from across Kazakhstan on best practices in combating corruption in the judiciary was held today in Astana.

The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Justice Institute of the Public Administration Academy and is the first of three training courses for judges on the topic of effective anti-corruption instruments in the court system.

The course aimed to promote best national and international practices in combating corruption, with a special focus on the provisions of Kazakhstan’s Law on Countering Corruption, improving access to justice and establishing prevention mechanisms to safeguard judicial impartiality. Discussions also focused on the prospects of updating the legislation on the status of judges as well as identifying risk factors to reduce corruption.

“The judicial branch plays a key role in countering corruption,” said Mirco Guenther, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “The OSCE Programme Office has worked closely for many years with partners in government and civil society to promote good governance best practices and facilitated expert advice in line with OSCE principles and commitments on key anti-corruption legislation adopted by the Parliament in 2015..”

Murat Beibitov, Director of the Institute of Justice at the Public Administration Academy, said: “Kazakhstan has ratified the UN Convention against Corruption and is a member of the Istanbul Anti-corruption Action Plan. In 2016, the country also enacted a law ‘On Combating Corruption’. Workshops such as the one held today provide great support in countering and preventing crimes of corruption in the judicial system.”

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-term efforts to help the host country counter corruption and promote the rule of law.