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Kazakhstan: Politics and Government

Answer

The Kazakhs have made some progress in the field of human rights, but further improvements are needed, as they themselves have recognised. Recent positive reforms include December 2009 legislation on domestic violence and gender equality and a reduction in the number of crimes carrying the death penalty. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are active and played a key role in developing Kazakhstan's National Human Rights Action Plan last year (the formation of which was supported by the UK). This Action Plan includes a comprehensive set of recommendations across the human rights spectrum, many with specific deadlines. But concerns remain, including in respect of arbitrary arrest and detention, the right to a fair trial and freedoms of expression, assembly and of the media, and in specific cases such as Evgeny Zhovtis and Ramazan Yesergepov. There is also scope for improvements in the legislation on elections, political parties and local government enacted in February 2009.February 2009 legislation introduced some improvements with regard to the media situation in Kazakhstan, including abolition of the registration requirement for television and radio outlets. However, libel remains a criminal offence in Kazakhstan and related laws are used against opposition media. In December 2009, a new privacy law was passed, which media NGOs state will place further constraints on investigative journalism.We are pleased that a restrictive law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations was rejected by Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council last year. We are concerned however that non-traditional religious groups including Jehovah's Witnesses, evangelical Christians and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness have experienced difficulties.The internet law, introduced in July 2009, has been strongly criticised both by the EU and by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative for Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, as not being in line with international standards or OSCE commitments. We most recently encouraged the Kazakhs to bring this law into line with international standards during a meeting in London with Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister on 29 January 2010.Kazakhstan continues to participate in the human rights dialogues established under the EU's Central Asia Strategy, which supports good governance, the rule of law and human rights and to which the UK contributes views. We encouraged Kazakhstan to co-operate closely with the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review earlier this year and will continue to emphasise the importance of a thorough response to the recommendations raised. The UK and our international partners will continue to raise issues of concern with the Kazakh authorities and urge them to press ahead with reforms, many of which they themselves have identified as necessary.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

507 c252-3W; 320862

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Politics and government Kazakhstan

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk