Reports on human rights in Kazakhstan in 2012 published with support of OSCE Centre
ASTANA, 19 September 2013 – The OSCE Centre supported the publication of the 2012 annual report on the state of human rights in Kazakhstan and a special report on migrants’ rights in the country that were presented at the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan today.
The event brought together over 100 parliamentarians, members of the government, representatives of state bodies, civil society, international organizations, mass media, and heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Astana.
The reports were produced by the Commission for Human Rights under the President of Kazakhstan with active involvement of civil society actors. They offer a comparative analysis of the national legislation and law enforcement practices in the area of protection of human rights, including the rights of migrants. The reports also assess the work of government agencies in this area and contain recommendations on how the human rights situation in Kazakhstan can be improved.
The OSCE Centre supported the preparation, publication and translation of both reports in Russian, Kazakh and English languages.
“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. Securing the human rights of individuals is necessary for the protection of society and the state at large,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, referring to John F. Kennedy’s quote. “Basic rights and freedoms are the key to stability and security – this is the underlying principle of all the key documents of the OSCE, starting with the Helsinki Final Act of 1975.”
Tazhin Marat Mukhambetkazievich, Secretary of State of Kazakhstan, said: “From the first days of independence, human rights have been one of the top priorities of our state policy. I hope that these reports will be useful both in terms of legal education of the population, and further improvement of human rights mechanisms.”
The event is part of the OSCE Centre's long-standing efforts to support the Commission for Human Rights under the President, expand its outreach to the regions of Kazakhstan, and raise public awareness of its work in protecting human rights.