OSCE supports 2nd Central Asian Dialogue on prison population reduction
The second Central Asian Dialogue on reduction of prison population and development of probation is taking place from 28 to 31 October 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Strategy2050.kz informs referring to the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan.
The four-day conference focuses on the status and prospects of the probation service in the context of Central Asian countries, discussing the advantages of probation, its effectiveness and influence on the penitentiary system, the post-penal rehabilitation of prisoners, and international practice on alternative measures to the deprivation of liberty.
Some 150 participants from relevant state bodies, legal experts, practicing lawyers, and representatives of international organizations and civil society associations including from the UK, Georgia, Poland and Germany are present to share information on their countries’ probation systems and offer some recommendations.
The issues of law enforcement practice of the criminal executive legislation and the practical implementation of the UN Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners are under discussion.
Workshops for prison service representatives of Central Asia and representatives of the Public Monitoring Council (PMC) and the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) are due to be held to conclude the event.
The conference takes place under the Programme Office’s long-term activities in supporting Kazakhstan’s reform of the criminal justice and penal systems.
The event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the Penal Reform International Office in Central Asia, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman Office), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Asia Group, the British Embassy in Kazakhstan, the Prison Committees of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Photo credit: OSCE/Kunsulu Demeuova
