OSCE Centre helps promote Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan

KORGALZHINO, Kazakhstan, 29 July 2013 – The OSCE Centre in Astana co-organized a capacity-building seminar to promote public access to environmental information and participation in decision-making and justice on environmental issues by advancing the work of the national Aarhus Centres. The event started today in Korgalzhino Natural Reserve Park, in Central Kazakhstan.

It is organized by the OSCE Centre and the National Aarhus Centre, with the support of the Environmental Protection Ministry and the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan. The seminar aims to address challenges, priorities and perspectives of the Aarhus Centres, operating in the capital and eight regions of the country.

“The seminar has a high practical value for professionals in bringing their activities closer in line with international standards,” said Ludmila Shabanova, the Head of the Astana-based National Aarhus Centre. “Through interactive consulting sessions it will allow us to develop strategies for professional decision-making.”

More than 30 participants, experts from academia, government agencies, the Supreme Court and environmental NGO’s will share their experience and knowledge, discuss legal and administrative issues, co-operation with the government, civil sector and international organizations to find the best way to support the implementation the Aarhus Convention.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) was adopted on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus.

“The 15th anniversary of the signing of the Aarhus Convention is an excellent opportunity to take stock of the progress and the challenges of its implementation in which the Aarhus Centres are an important stakeholder,” said Jeannette Kloetzer, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “The Centre continues to assist Kazakhstan in enhancing public participation in environmental governance and strengthening environmental security.

Supreme Court Judge Vladimir Borisov stressed the relevance of the training for the judiciary: “It is extremely important that the activities of regional courts meet the requirements of national and international environmental legislation to establish the practice of a uniform application of environmental laws, fostering the protection of the environment.”