OSCE's human rights office welcomes progress in Kazakhstan prison reform
(OSCE)Morning prayer in a prison mosque in
Kazakhstan. (OSCE)
WARSAW, 22 May 2003 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) welcomes progress made in reforming Kazakhstan's prison system. Since the adoption last December of new legislation to reduce the country's large prison population, the number of inmates has fallen from 66,000 to 58,000, according to official figures.
"This development shows Kazakhstan's commitment to liberalize criminal policy and we strongly encourage the authorities to continue their reform efforts", said Ambassador Christian Strohal, the Director of the ODIHR. "Among the outstanding issues remains the transfer of the pre-trial detention centres to the authority of the Ministry of Justice in order to improve respect for the rights of detainees awaiting trial."
Kazakhstan has one of the highest per capita imprisonment rates worldwide. In an effort to reduce its large prison population, Kazakhstan adopted a number of amendments decriminalizing certain offences, introducing alternatives to custody, reducing prison terms and broadening possibilities for early release.
While prisons have already been transferred to the authority of the Ministry of Justice in line with international best practice, the pre-trial detention system still remains under the control of the Ministry of Interior.
The ODIHR has supported the prison reform process in Kazakhstan for several years. In April and May, the ODIHR and the OSCE Office in Almaty conducted a series of training seminars across the country for senior penitentiary officials, prosecutors, judges and NGOs to help ensuring the implementation of the recently adopted reforms.
The ODIHR and the OSCE Office in Almaty stand ready to support follow-up initiatives, including further discussions on legislation and its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards.
"This development shows Kazakhstan's commitment to liberalize criminal policy and we strongly encourage the authorities to continue their reform efforts", said Ambassador Christian Strohal, the Director of the ODIHR. "Among the outstanding issues remains the transfer of the pre-trial detention centres to the authority of the Ministry of Justice in order to improve respect for the rights of detainees awaiting trial."
Kazakhstan has one of the highest per capita imprisonment rates worldwide. In an effort to reduce its large prison population, Kazakhstan adopted a number of amendments decriminalizing certain offences, introducing alternatives to custody, reducing prison terms and broadening possibilities for early release.
While prisons have already been transferred to the authority of the Ministry of Justice in line with international best practice, the pre-trial detention system still remains under the control of the Ministry of Interior.
The ODIHR has supported the prison reform process in Kazakhstan for several years. In April and May, the ODIHR and the OSCE Office in Almaty conducted a series of training seminars across the country for senior penitentiary officials, prosecutors, judges and NGOs to help ensuring the implementation of the recently adopted reforms.
The ODIHR and the OSCE Office in Almaty stand ready to support follow-up initiatives, including further discussions on legislation and its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards.