Reforms in Kazakhstan’s social and political development presented at ODIHR meeting in Warsaw
An annual meeting of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to review the implementation of the commitments in the human dimension field has taken place on September 16, 2019, in Warsaw. The event has gathered around 2 thousand participants from among government representatives of 57 OSCE members and NGOs. Strategy2050.kz reports referring to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
The meeting has focused on the observation of human rights and fundamental freedoms emphasizing the freedom of expression, media and information, rights to freedom of religion, peaceful assembly and association, the rule of law, the prevention of tortures, discrimination, and so on within the OSCE.
The Kazakh delegation included the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Information and Social Development, Internal Affairs, the Kazakh General Prosecutor’s Office and the Central Election Commission.
The Meeting has been opened by Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Slovakian Foreign Ministry Miroslav Lajčák, Polish Foreign Ministry Jacek Czaputowicz, OSCE Secretary-General Thomas Greminger, and OSCE PA President George Tsereteli and the heads of the UN institutions.
In the Kazakh part the meeting has been addressed by the head of the Kazakh delegation, Ambassador-at-large of the Foreign Ministry Usen Suleimen who informed those present about the approval of the national plan of action for implementing the state-of-the-nation address of the Kazakh President to the people of Kazakhstan aimed at the comprehensive measures, including in human right and further development of civil society.
It has been noted that the Plan provides for the measures to tighten the criminal law regarding serious offences, establish administrative justice, to support SMEs, adjust the social policy, improve education, provide an opportunity to use pension savings and others.
Also, the Plan focuses on the measures for financing the initiatives announced in the Address, including the funds to reform the Ministry of Internal Affairs, increase salaries of teachers and culture and art workers, implement business support programmes, develop infrastructure and so on.
On the first day of the Meeting, the Kazakh delegation has also participated in the debate involving the Kazakh civil sector representatives.
Photo credit: Kazakh Foreign Ministry
