Consolidated report of the members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on the preventive visits carried out in Astana in 2023 presented

November 8, 2024
a group of people standing in front of a crowd posing for the camera
Photo: Press office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Human Rights Commissioner Artur Lastaev today chaired the presentation of the consolidated report of the members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) on the preventive visits carried out in 2023.

The event took place in the form of a round table and gathered around 200 participants who took part online and in person. Participants included Igor Rogov, Chair of the Human Rights Commission under the President of Kazakhstan, Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, Snezhanna Imasheva, Chair of the Committee on Legislation and Judicial Reform of the Mazhilis of the Kazakh Parliament, Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia, members of the Coordination and Expert Councils of the Commissioner for Human Rights, NPM members and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

Photo: Press office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan

In his opening speech, Commissioner Artur Lastaev highlighted a new operational approach of his office: when government authorities fail to comply with recommendations, the Ombudsman now submits individualized recommendations to the relevant ministries. He also highlighted the efforts of his regional representatives to combat torture and ill-treatment and emphasised the importance of independence  of the NPM.

In 2023, the members of the NPM carried out 461 preventive visits, including 422 planned and 33 special visits, covering a total of 474 monitored facilities. These included facilities of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defence and the National Security Committee. This monitoring resulted in more than 3,000 recommendations being submitted to government agencies, almost half of which (40 percent) have already been implemented. Most of the recommendations related to detention conditions, procurement of necessary items, legal training, medical care and compliance with sanitary standards. 258 officials were brought to justice based on the results of the monitoring of closed facilities at the suggestion of representatives of the Commissioner, and a further 17 on the initiative of NPM participants.

The National Preventive Mechanism focuses on visits to institutions responsible for the execution of sentences and acts as a system for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. Since 2014, UNDP in Kazakhstan has been supporting the work of the NPM through various capacity-building programs, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and institutional support. Before this, the UNDP, along with other international organizations, played a key role in initiating the draft law that led to the creation of the NPM in Kazakhstan.

Группа людей, сидящих за столом в комнате
Photo: Press office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan