OSCE Centre co-organizes anti-trafficking training seminar for judges

ASTANA, 19 October 2009 - A two-day OSCE-organized training seminar for judges on how to best handle human trafficking cases began today in Astana.

The OSCE Centre in Astana is organizing the seminar in co-operation with the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information, the Supreme Court and the public foundation the Charter for Human Rights.

During the seminar, about 25 judges from courts across Kazakhstan and the Supreme Court will discuss human trafficking from a judicial perspective. They will review the situation regarding human trafficking in Kazakhstan, including national legislation and international instruments, current trends and existing practices used by courts to identify trafficking victims. The classification of crimes associated with human trafficking and protection of victims' rights also will be discussed.

"It is very important to consolidate judicial practice in criminal cases dealing with human trafficking," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "This will help to significantly improve the review of these kinds of crimes and will help judges avoid common misconceptions made in considering such cases."

Supreme Court Judge Abdrashid Zhukenov added: "Combating human trafficking and defending the rights of trafficking victims is an urgent challenge for the court and for law enforcement authorities, which are actively working to detect, interdict and punish these criminal acts."

At the seminar, participants will also engage in comparative analysis of anti-trafficking legislation in Central Asian states and discuss relevant activities of different government bodies.