OSCE Centre promotes public discussion of decision-making process on environmental matters in Kazakhstan
(OSCE)Representatives from a non-governmental organization, the local authorities and an oil company discuss the rules for preparing and implementing public hearings at an OSCE workshop in Atyrau, 19 October 2006. (OSCE) Photo details
ALMATY, 31 October 2006 - The OSCE Centre in Almaty has organized roundtable discussions in Atyrau, Almaty, Astana and Karaganda this month on the role of the communities in the decision-making process on environmental matters.
"Public hearings are an effective means of developing a democratic decision-making processes by allowing citizens and NGOs to express their opinions and concerns on environmental issues," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Centre. "However, effective public participation in Kazakhstan still needs a legal framework and clear guidelines for its practical implementation."
The meetings brought together regional authorities, NGOs and representatives of the business community. Participants also discussed the draft guidelines on public hearings implementation in Kazakhstan, which is being developed by the OSCE Centre in Almaty with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the NGO Ecological Forum. The guidelines will be published in Russian and Kazakh.
The meetings and the publication of the guidelines are part of the OSCE Centre's activities to support Kazakhstan in implementing of the Aahrus Convention and its three pillars - access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental issues.
"Public hearings are an effective means of developing a democratic decision-making processes by allowing citizens and NGOs to express their opinions and concerns on environmental issues," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Centre. "However, effective public participation in Kazakhstan still needs a legal framework and clear guidelines for its practical implementation."
The meetings brought together regional authorities, NGOs and representatives of the business community. Participants also discussed the draft guidelines on public hearings implementation in Kazakhstan, which is being developed by the OSCE Centre in Almaty with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the NGO Ecological Forum. The guidelines will be published in Russian and Kazakh.
The meetings and the publication of the guidelines are part of the OSCE Centre's activities to support Kazakhstan in implementing of the Aahrus Convention and its three pillars - access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental issues.