OSCE Centre in Astana trains judges on anti-trafficking

ASTANA, 22 February 2012 –An OSCE-supported training seminar for judges on improving judicial practice in criminal human trafficking cases started today in Astana.

“Sharing national experience in combating trafficking in human beings is essential for improving the process of reviewing criminal cases by local courts,” said Stefan Buchmayer, the Human Dimension Officer of the OSCE Centre in Astana, welcoming the seminar participants. “The OSCE Centre is ready to continue supporting judicial practice reform initiatives in co-operation with the Supreme Court, state institutions and non-governmental organizations.” 

At the seminar, Supreme Court judges and representatives of local non-governmental organizations will share their experience with some 30 district court judges from across Kazakhstan and other civil servants. Good judicial practices in reviewing criminal trafficking cases, problematic aspects of proof in courts, and tools to properly categorize crimes, as well as effective ways to integrate international legal anti-trafficking tools into law enforcement and judicial practice will be covered.

Murat Beibitov, Director of the Justice Institute under the Civil Service Academy, said: “It is necessary to enhance our judges’ professional skills in order to bring our trafficking case practice in line with national and international standards.”

The two-day seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana in co-operation with the Civil Service Academy, the Supreme Court and the US embassy in Kazakhstan is the first in a series of several OSCE-supported training seminars for judges planned for this year. These events are part of the Centre’s longstanding efforts to strengthen the protection of human trafficking victims and improve national anti-trafficking legislation.