Locations
The first extended field meeting of the Coordination Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Kokshetau. The primary purpose of the expert meeting was to present the draft Consolidated Report of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), which was prepared based on the results of monitoring closed institutions in 2024. During the meeting, a detailed review of the NPM’s work on preventing torture and ill-treatment in closed institutions was presented, along with the draft Consolidated Report, which summarized the findings from visits to penitentiary institutions, temporary detention facilities, special educational institutions, and medical organizations.
The document reflected the identified issues, best practices, and recommendations for improving the human rights protection system in closed institutions. Special attention was given to detention conditions, access to medical care, issues related to the education and employment of inmates, and compliance with international standards for persons in custody.
The Commissioner for Human Rights, Artur Lastaev, praised the high quality of the document's preparation.
"The members of the Coordination Council and the National Preventive Mechanism have accomplished significant work in a short period, paying close attention to every detail. The report addresses a wide range of relevant issues and problem areas. I am confident it will serve as a solid foundation for future efforts to enhance the preventive monitoring system, strengthen cooperation with state bodies, and protect human rights in closed institutions,"said the Ombudsman.
Following the discussion, several recommendations were made to strengthen independent monitoring of detention conditions, increase the legal literacy of staff in special institutions, introduce additional public oversight mechanisms, and foster international partnerships.
In a video message, Sukhrob Khojimatov, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in Kazakhstan, stated:
"The United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan has supported the work of the National Preventive Mechanism since its inception in 2013. We will continue to bolster its institutional capacity and independence, in line with the latest observations of the UN Committee Against Torture and the recommendations of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture."
In 2024, the UNDP and the National Human Rights Center launched a series of analytical studies, which led to practical recommendations for improving the conditions of individuals in detention, including enhancements to medical care, services, and the conditions for women in penitentiary institutions.
The extended meeting of the Coordination Council was held with the support of the UNDP in Kazakhstan and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.
"The OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in turn, continues to actively support Kazakhstan in its efforts to strengthen the human rights infrastructure, including through co-operation with the Institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the NPM. We see that Kazakhstan is actively continuing to implement international standards and practices in its human rights system, and this is deeply respected. It is important that within the framework of this process, the state, international organizations and civil society continue to work together, exchange experience and knowledge in order to eventually create a system that will effectively protect human rights and combat violations,"stated Yuri Fenopetov, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.
At the end of the meeting, an award ceremony took place. Artur Lastaev, on behalf of the National Human Rights Center and UNDP, presented an honorary award to the renowned Kazakh lawyer and member of the Coordination Council, Aiman Umarova, in recognition of her significant contribution to the protection of human rights in Kazakhstan.
