Ensuring the rights of the individual in focus at OSCE-supported conference in Astana
ASTANA, 12 May 2016 – Current trends and challenges in ensuring the rights of the individual in modern society are the main topics of an OSCE-supported international conference in the framework of annual ”Shaikenov Readings”, which began today in Astana.
The event, named in honour of Nagashbay Shaikenov, one of the most prominent legal scholars and state figures in the modern history of Kazakhstan, was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Justice Ministry’s Legislation Institute.
Some 80 high-level government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of academia, non-governmental and international organizations, legal practitioners and national and international legal experts will discuss a wide range of issues related to the protection of individual rights in current criminal, civil, labour and environmental legislation. The topics will include the quality of existing laws and regulatory framework, social protection, environmental friendliness of industrial enterprises, as well as the effectiveness of law enforcement activities with an emphasis on protection of citizens’ rights. Special attention will be given to the ensuring the rights of minors in the light of the establishment of the Children’s Ombudsman in Kazakhstan.
Zauresh Baimoldina, Kazakhstan’s Justice Deputy Minister said: “A number of entirely new codified laws and related changes in criminal, civil, and labour legislation based on the best experience to ensure the rights and freedoms of individual have been introduced at present stage within the framework of five institutional reforms.”
“The modern concept of human rights places a priority on personal rights, which are intended to ensure the freedom and autonomy of the individual as a member of civil society, including legal protections against any illegal external interference,” said György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “Therefore, the implementation of concrete mechanisms for the protection of individual rights is particularly important.”
The participants will also discuss the development of the national legal system in light of priorities set in Kazakhstan’s legal policy concept for 2010-2020 and the national plan “100 Concrete Steps to Implement Five Institutional Reforms”.
The conference is part of the Programme Office’s long-term activities in supporting the process of legal system reform in Kazakhstan.