OSCE Centre to continue promoting fundamental rights in Kazakhstan, says new Head of Centre

ASTANA, 7 February 2012 – A roundtable meeting held in Astana today reviewed the implementation of the parts of the country’s National Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012 devoted to improving the enforcement of the right to life and the rights of prisoners.

Civil society representatives and legislators taking part in the event discussed the progress made and provided recommendations for advancing the implementation of Kazakhstan’s commitments to safeguard democracy and human rights.

“Proper enforcement of the right to life and the rights of prisoners has always been an important area of the OSCE Centre’s activities,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana who took up her post in January 2012. “Taking into account the special emphasis made by the current OSCE Chairmanship Ireland on promoting fundamental rights, the OSCE Centre in Astana will continue its efforts in this area.”

“The reviews and recommendations of today’s meeting will help further contribute to legislative and law enforcement practice reform in Kazakhstan,” she added.

The roundtable meeting was organized by the European Commission Delegation to Kazakhstan, and local non-governmental organizations – the Kazakhstani International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, “MediaNet” International Centre of Journalism, and the Legal Policy Research Centre.