2010 Human Rights in Kazakhstan - a series of round table discussions to take place

ASTANA. March 4. KAZINFORM The Ministry of Justice of the RK jointly with the UN Development Programme, and with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will hold a series of round table discussions on implementation of recommendations of the Universal Periodical Review and National Human Rights Action Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2009-2012.

Universal Periodical Review is a mechanism of Human Rights Council to examine the policy on human rights of UN member states once in four years. For the first time Kazakhstan had undergone a procedure of Universal Periodical Review in February 2010, in Geneva (Switzerland), when representatives of UN members states had reviewed the situation with human rights in Kazakhstan and provided the recommendations. All documents regarding the Review are available on the web-site of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/KZSession7.aspx

National Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012 is a consolidated program providing for the improvement of legislation and enforcement practice, national human rights protection mechanisms.

The main goal of round table discussions is to raise awareness among public on human rights policy. A Draft Action Plan for implementation of recommendations of the Universal Periodical Review will be represented to the participants. The final draft amended according to the recommendations of the civil society will be presented to the participants of the final meeting to be held in April 2011 in Astana.

The representatives of the authorized state bodies, political parties, and non-governmental organizations are invited to take part in round table discussions, the press release of the UNDP reads.

For additional information, please contact Shynar Jetpissova, UNDP Communications Associate ([email protected] ) at tel: [phone], or Aliya Duganova, Manager of UNDP Project «Transparency and access to information and public justice in Kazakhstan» ([email protected] ), at tel/fax: [phone].