OSCE Centre in Astana supports human rights education in police
ASTANA, 31 July 2012 – Two OSCE-supported training seminars aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills of police schools instructors on human rights-related matters ended today in Astana.
The seminars took into account the results and recommendations of an OSCE project to establish human rights education as an integral part of the police schools’ and colleges’ curriculum.
About twenty police instructors from different regions of Kazakhstan took part in the seminar and the master class organized by the Centre in partnership with the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, and Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry.
“The OSCE Centre supports education of police officers on human rights issues and facilitates dialogue and interaction between the police and society,” said Jeannette Kloetzer, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana addressing the participants. “Protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms by the state, including by the law-enforcement authorities, is a significant element of strengthening security, democracy and rule of law.”
“Educating future police officers to help ensure that they duly respect and protect citizens’ rights and freedoms, is key for further democratic development of our country,” said Viktoriya Tyuleneva, Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law.
During the two days the Bureau trainers conducted courses with interactive elements introducing best practices and international experience. The course participants also received a handbook in Kazakh and Russian languages especially tailored to teach and train police officers on legal and practical aspects of human rights protection. Police instructors who participated in the courses would subsequently train their peers in human rights matters.
The project is part of Centre’s efforts to promote democratic policing in Kazakhstan.