OSCE Centre in Astana completes series of regional seminars on freedom of peaceful assembly

ATYRAU, Kazakhstan, 25 June 2010 - A seminar on international standards on freedom of peaceful assembly, organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, began in Atyrau today.

Thirty representatives from non-governmental organizations, media, political parties and state agencies from western Kazakhstan are taking part in the seminar, the last in a series of three such events.

Participants discussed provisions on freedom of peaceful assembly stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by Kazakhstan in 2005, and guidelines issued in 2007 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

The discussion also focused on limits to the right to protest and on challenges to freedom of assembly in Kazakhstan, including legislation, executive practice and administrative sanctions.

"The right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed by key human rights treaties and by the commitments made by OSCE participating States in the 1990 Copenhagen Document," said Stefan Buchmayer, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre. "The OSCE Centre will continue to assist Kazakhstan in bringing national legislation in line with international standards."

The seminar was organized jointly by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the public foundation Charter for Human Rights. Earlier seminars were held in Shymkent and Taraz in southern Kazakhstan, and Karaganda in central Kazakhstan.