OSCE concludes series of anti-trafficking seminars for judges in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 4 November 2015 – The concluding seminar in a series of seven OSCE-supported two-day training events for judges from regional courts on good practices in dealing with human trafficking cases began today in Astana.
The six-month programme was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Civil Service Academy under the President, the Supreme Court and the US Embassy in Kazakhstan.
Some 250 judges from across the country learned from leading international experts on how best to use national and international legal tools in dealing with criminal cases on trafficking in human beings.
Prominent legal experts from Kazakhstan acquainted the participants with best practices in reviewing criminal trafficking cases, presenting evidence in courts and the tools to properly categorize crimes, as well as effective ways to integrate international legal anti-trafficking tools into law enforcement and judicial practice. Civil society representatives shared their experience in assisting victims of human trafficking and ill treatment.
“The OSCE Programme Office in Astana supported the development of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking not only because it helps coalesce the efforts of different government agencies and NGOs in identifying and protecting victims, but it allows the state to better prosecute and punish those who commit this heinous crime,” said Mirco Guenther, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “In this regard, the past six months of training seminars have aimed to enhance the professional skills of judges in both criminal and administrative cases related to this important issue.”
Robin Shaffer, Chief of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, said: “It is important to ensure that victim identification and victim referral mechanisms are in place and function effectively. Countries that engage all parties in the victim identification process have greater chances of successfully identifying victims and prosecuting traffickers.”
He also complimented the host country’s human rights report entitled “Current Issues Affecting Human Rights Protection in the Area of Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Republic of Kazakhstan” saying that it showed the government’s commitment in this area.
The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to support the host country in combating human trafficking and in implementing the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.