OSCE-supported Students’ Forum marks International Human Rights Day in Kazakhstan
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 10 December 2014 – The different aspects of human rights protection are being addressed at the eighth annual Law Students’ Forum “Protection of Human Rights in a Changing World” on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The event is co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in partnership with the Caspian Public University and with support from the Soros-Kazakhstan Foundation.
Some 70 students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation along with representatives of academia, civil activists and legal practitioners will discuss the current development of international law and the effectiveness of national mechanisms to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. They will examine topics related to tolerance and the legal prohibition of discrimination, and will discuss and debate the right to freedom of expression on the Internet with a panel of national media experts.
Winners of a contest for research papers on international law on human rights and practical aspects of protection of the vulnerable groups’ rights and freedoms, which were submitted by 60 students, will be announced at the end of the conference.
“The OSCE in this activity not only pays attention to young people and their involvement in programmatic work but also engages youth in discussing the future of the region, overcoming challenges and addressing threats through shaping the future security architecture across the space from Vancouver to Vladivostok on the basis of values shared values and common principles,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.
Zholdasbek Nusenov, Rector of Caspian Public University, said: “Today, the idea of justice, tolerance and human rights should be further promoted, and it is gratifying to know that young people are actively involved in the discussion of these issues.”
The event is part of the Centre’s activities to support the involvement of young people in human rights dialogue in Kazakhstan in line with priorities of the OSCE Chairmanships of Switzerland in 2014 and of Serbia in 2015.