Prosecutors learn about practices to combat torture during seminar organized by OSCE Centre in Astana
ASTANA, 15 June 2011 – An OSCE-organized seminar for prosecutors from across Kazakhstan on international standards and practices to combat torture started in Astana today.
The OSCE Centre in Astana and the Training Institute of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan, co-organized the two-day seminar. Some 35 prosecutors will discuss the challenges posed by the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's legal framework, which bans torture and provides safeguards against torture for those deprived of their liberty, also is on the agenda.
Experts from Latvia, Moldova and Kazakhstan will present an overview of the existing international and national legislation in the field and examples of national and international efforts to offer redress to torture victims and to punish perpetrators. Discussions will also focus on prosecutors' role in the protection of detainees against torture and in investigating allegations of abuse in the context of the national legislation.
“This seminar forms part of Kazakhstan's efforts to take steps to prevent torture and pursue perpetrators of torture,” said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "Torture is categorically forbidden under international law, and the OSCE participating States committed themselves to fight the affront torture poses to human dignity."
Askar Sekishev, the Deputy of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, added: "The Republic of Kazakhstan has undertaken international obligations to prevent and combat torture. Kazakhstan supports the ‘zero tolerance’ principle for this type of conduct and makes all institutional and legislative efforts to combat it."
The seminar is part of the OSCE Centre's long-term co-operation with the Training Institute of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan to enhance the knowledge and competence of prosecutors on various human rights and rule of law related topics. It is part of the Centre’s support to judicial reforms in the sphere of criminal justice.