Protection for witnesses and victims during criminal justice process discussed at OSCE-supported conference in Bishkek
BISHKEK, 18 June 2015 - The OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kyrgyz State Juridical Academy under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic today opened a two-day international conference in Bishkek focusing on the protection of witnesses and victims of organized crime in the criminal justice process.
The conference aims at promoting advanced policies and practices for law-enforcement agencies, prosecutor’s offices and judiciaries on safety measures that will support the implementation of national witness protection programmes and enhance national efforts in combating organized and other serious crimes.
“Most citizens who became victims and witnesses of crime fear revenge from criminals and so do not report their concerns to law-enforcement agencies,” said Kyrgyz Minister of Interior Melis Turganbaev. “In this regard, one of the most important priorities of the country is to guarantee their protection.”
Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “The OSCE Centre highly evaluates the political will demonstrated by the Government in the systematic fight against organized crime and protection of human rights as part of the integrated national security system in accordance with its national and international commitments. We express commitment for co-operation with all law enforcement agencies, and civil society, in order to support initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic.”
Some 50 representative of law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan, donors, international organizations, scientific and civil society as well as media are participating in the event.
Rector of Kyrgyz state juridical academy, Professor Kanat Kerezbekov said that protection for participants of a criminal justice process is a serious step towards implementing the concept on combating organized crime. “Our Academy actively co-operates with international organizations and law enforcement agencies in addressing such topical issues,” he said.