OSCE supports expert meeting on penitentiary legislation in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 26 February 2015 - The issues of harmonising some legislative acts with provisions of the new Criminal Executive Code of Kazakhstan were among the topics addressed at an OSCE-supported expert meeting held today in Astana. The event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Legislative and Judicial Reform Committee of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) with support from the Penal Reform International Office in Central Asia.

Some 50 parliamentarians, representatives of the National Security Committee, Prosecutor General’s Office, Internal Affairs, Justice, Defense, Education, Health Care and Social Development Ministries and non-governmental organizations discussed the amendments to legislative acts concurrent with the Criminal Executive Code adopted in 2014.

Particular attention was paid to post-penitentiary control and social rehabilitation of convicts, administrative oversight as well as terms and conditions in detention facilities, prevention of juvenile delinquency and the role of familial support. An expert from Moldova shared his country’s experience on effective methods of probation, in particular community service for adults as an alternative to custodial sentences.

“Currently, the provision of various social services to prisoners and their reintegration into society remain a major challenge for penal system,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “Today’s expert meeting will help develop the package of amendments to the legislation and facilitate the promotion of institutions on providing social services for inmates and released persons.”

Svetlana Bychkova, the Secretary of the Legislative and Judicial Reform Committee of the Mazhilis said: “Kazakhstan undertakes ambitious criminal justice and penitentiary reforms. In this connection, the issues of prisoners’ labour and re-socialization are among biggest challenges. The proposed draft law is particularly aimed to tackle these issues and improve social component in general penitentiary system revision”.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s activities in supporting criminal justice and penitentiary reforms in Kazakhstan.