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OSCE Centre helps organize discussion on implementing International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Kazakhstan
ASTANA 11 May 2006
ASTANA, 11 May 2006 - Participants at a seminar that opened today in Astana are discussing ways of bringing the current legislation into compliance with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as Kazakhstan's commitments with regard to the ratification of the document.
The two-day event was jointly organized by the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan and the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Charter for Human Rights with the support of the OSCE Centre in Almaty, the British Embassy, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Members of Parliament of Kazakhstan, representatives of the Presidential Administration and relevant ministries, and NGOs took part in the seminar. One of the main speakers was Martin Scheinin, a former member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the main body tasked with observing compliance with the ICCPR provisions.
Zhemis Turmagambetova, Executive Director of Charter for Human Rights said: "After ratification, Kazakhstan will face the task of changing domestic legislation provisions which contradict ICCPR norms, and NGOs should be ready to provide assistance to the Government and Parliament of Kazakhstan in this complex work."
Ambassador Ivar Vikki, Head of the OSCE Centre, added: "It is important to resume a wide discussion in Kazakhstan on joining the two Optional Protocols to the Covenant. The first recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider complaints from individuals, and the second aims at abolishing the death penalty."
Participants at the seminar also discussed issues related to interpretation of ICCPR articles, activity of the UN Human Rights Committee, commitments of participating States on reporting, and the significance and role of the Optional Protocols. The individual complaints procedure and some leading cases were also on the agnda. Representatives of government structures directly involved in the legislative process discussed the substance of the Covenant and practical aspects of its application and implementation.
The two-day event was jointly organized by the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan and the local non-governmental organization (NGO) Charter for Human Rights with the support of the OSCE Centre in Almaty, the British Embassy, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Members of Parliament of Kazakhstan, representatives of the Presidential Administration and relevant ministries, and NGOs took part in the seminar. One of the main speakers was Martin Scheinin, a former member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the main body tasked with observing compliance with the ICCPR provisions.
Zhemis Turmagambetova, Executive Director of Charter for Human Rights said: "After ratification, Kazakhstan will face the task of changing domestic legislation provisions which contradict ICCPR norms, and NGOs should be ready to provide assistance to the Government and Parliament of Kazakhstan in this complex work."
Ambassador Ivar Vikki, Head of the OSCE Centre, added: "It is important to resume a wide discussion in Kazakhstan on joining the two Optional Protocols to the Covenant. The first recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider complaints from individuals, and the second aims at abolishing the death penalty."
Participants at the seminar also discussed issues related to interpretation of ICCPR articles, activity of the UN Human Rights Committee, commitments of participating States on reporting, and the significance and role of the Optional Protocols. The individual complaints procedure and some leading cases were also on the agnda. Representatives of government structures directly involved in the legislative process discussed the substance of the Covenant and practical aspects of its application and implementation.