OSCE Centre facilitates discussion of criminal legislation reform in Kazakhstan
The General Prosecutor's Office led some 50 participants in a discussion of the concept paper, which includes the rationale behind the new criminal code and related developments. Local legal experts, representatives of the Almaty Bar Association and human rights NGOs assessed the criminal code concept paper with respect to human rights standards, and shared views on criminal legislation reform. The meeting resulted in a set of recommendations for improving the draft criminal code, the press service of the OSCE Center in Astana reports.
"The criminal code is a cornerstone of both the criminal prosecution system and the fight against crime, but at the same time also serves to protect citizens' rights. For this reason, the OSCE Centre supports Kazakhstan's efforts to improve its criminal legislation in line with OSCE principles and commitments," said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.
During the discussion, participants raised such issues as the prospects for further humanizing criminal law, the new concept's conformity with the 2009-2012 National Action Plan on Human Rights, and the development of the penitentiary system in light of the new criminal code.
"The need to further reform the criminal code is prompted among other things by the challenges and trends we are facing in the fight against terrorism, extremism and combating corruption, with defining the criminal liability of legal entities, and with humanizing criminal policy. It is crucial to strengthen protective mechanisms in criminal legislation in order to guarantee the fulfilment of citizens' rights and responsibilities," said Iogan Merkel, the Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan.
Zhemis Turmagambetova, the Director of the Charter for Human Rights, said: "We are thankful to our partners, the OSCE and the General Prosecutor's Office, for their support and hope that the criminal legislation reform process will be open and inclusive. While reforming criminal legislation, it is necessary to draw upon international experience and comply with Kazakhstan's obligations under the human rights treaties that it has ratified."
The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the General Prosecutor's Office and the Charter for Human Rights NGO, and complements the OSCE Centre's efforts to foster democratic legal reforms in Kazakhstan.
