OSCE assists Kazakhstan in promoting religious freedom

ASTANA, 25 May 2007 - International standards and Kazakhstani legislation on freedom of belief and religious association were the topics of a meeting organized today in Astana by the OSCE Centre in Almaty.

Some 50 participants took part in the event, including State officials, members of religious communities, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and independent experts from Kazakhstan and the OSCE Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

"Kazakhstan has rightly been commended for its efforts to promote both inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance and non-discrimination," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Almaty.

"The right to manifest, practice and teach one's religion or belief in public or in private, as well as to change to a new religion or belief, are among the most important OSCE and other commitments, including those underpinned in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Kazakhstan is a party."

The OSCE Guidelines for Review of Legislation Pertaining to Religion or Belief developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and other international instruments and best practices served as a basis for the discussion.

The freedom to manifest, practice and teach one's religion or belief by minority groups, including the issue of registration of religious associations, were among the topics touched upon. Participants noted that restrictions to this right must be prescribed by law and be consistent with international standards.

The event was co-organized with the Presidential Human Rights Commission and the NGO Almaty Helsinki Committee, in co-operation with the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Justice.