OSCE completes annual series of seminars on human rights protection in Kazakhstan
The last in an annual series of five OSCE-supported training seminars on human rights protection mechanisms concluded in the Akmola Region, Kazakhstan, on 9 November 2018.
The three-day event was organized by the Human Rights Commission under the President with support of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Akmola Region Akimat (administration). It brought together 190 representatives of the local Akimats of the Akmola Region, the city of Kokshetau, Zerendy and Sandyktau districts, as well as judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and civil society members.
Participants were familiarized with the international human rights commitments of Kazakhstan and the role of national and international human rights institutions in the protection of human rights and freedoms. They learned about new developments in labour legislation that have major implications for employees, as well as about the right to access to information by lawful means.
During interactive question-and-answer sessions led by OSCE-supported experts, participants discussed a wide range of issues, including imperfections in the law that infringe upon the social, labour and civil rights of the individual and offered solutions to the existing issues. The feedback received from participants during the seminar will be included in special reports of the Human Rights Commission to be shared with respective government agencies.
Similar activities were supported earlier this year in the Turkestan, Zhambyl, Karaganda and East Kazakhstan Regions as part of the Office’s long-term efforts to support national human rights institutions in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the host country.