OSCE Centre holds expert meeting on administrative justice reform in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 29 November 2012 - An OSCE-supported expert conference on the role of administrative law and justice in human rights protection was held in Astana today.
The event was organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Legal Policy Research Centre and the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan. The Conference was conducted in connection with the reform of the Administrative Offences Code and the establishment of a system of administrative courts in Kazakhstan.
At the event, government officials, law-enforcement officers, legal experts, academics and human rights activists from Kazakhstan discussed with international experts from Germany, Russia and Ukraine policy perspectives for developing an administrative justice system in Kazakhstan and effectively promoting international standards to uphold basic rights and freedoms in the area of administrative justice, including the right to fair trial. The experts also shared good practices in redressing administrative decisions resulting in violations of rights of individuals, and discussed administrative regulation in the areas of freedom of assembly and association, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
“Adherence to rule of law principles is only possible with a functioning system of administrative justice in place, which would allow individuals to effectively challenge administrative decisions and hold public authorities accountable for human rights infringements,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana at the opening of the event. “It is encouraging that Kazakhstan is considering a serious reform of its administrative justice system and we stand ready to support the government and civil society in this endeavour.”
Tatyana Zinovich, the Deputy Director of the Legal Policy Research Centre, added: “Numerous human rights violations can be effectively prevented by a fair and transparent resolution of administrative disputes. This event allowed its participants to look at the advantages of administrative justice, in the form of models presented at our meeting, possesses a set of incontestable advantages such as impartiality, specialization of courts and efficiency. Establishing such a system in Kazakhstan would help further improve human rights protection in the country.”
As an outcome of the conference a set of recommendations for a future administrative justice system model was developed, including ways to improve the national administrative offences legislation. The recommendations will be shared with relevant state authorities.