Kazakh Foreign Ministry hosts dialogue platform on torture prevention

The agenda addressed key issues on improving measures aimed at preventing and protecting against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Opening the meeting, Vladimir Malakhov, deputy head of the Pre-Trial Investigation Service of the General Prosecutor’s Office, informed about the important reforms underway in the country in the field of criminal proceedings in order to bring criminal legislation in line with Kazakhstan’s international obligations. Particular attention was placed to the need for full rehabilitation and compensation for victims of torture. Thus, the issue of introducing amendments to increase the amount of compensation for harm and improve its mechanism is currently under consideration.

Zhanar Bigaliyeva, department head at the National Human Rights Center, presented a report on the role of the National Preventive Mechanism (hereinafter – NPM) in the prevention of torture. To date, the work of the Center is focused on improving the functionality of the information system of the Commissioner for Human Rights and finalizing its integration with the terminals for filing complaints from convicted persons, completing the transition of the work of NPM participants to a digital format for compiling reports, as well as increasing funding for the NPM.

While considering the third question, Gulnara Sarsenbaeva, director of the Department of Organization of Medical Care of the Ministry of Health, reported on the work being done to provide medical care to persons held in penal institutions. She shared her plans for the current year to amend regulations to introduce 24-hour beds, change the list of tests during medical examinations, revise equipment, staffing levels and the list of screening examinations, as well as the introduction of medical and social services and digitalization.

During the discussion of the fourth item on the agenda, Bakytzhan Sadybekov, deputy chairman of the Committee of the Criminally-Executive System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (hereinafter – CCES), noted that in order to prevent torture, all institutions now have continuous video surveillance, with over 39,000 cameras installed, which are also available online for the prosecutor’s office. In addition, he pointed out that with the adoption of the Social Code, inmates with a first-group disability in penitentiary institutions could be cared for by persons from among the inmates of the same institution and receive social benefits in the form of care allowances.

On the fifth issue of the meeting, Yulia Ovechkina, deputy chairperson of the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the Ministry of Education, said that citizens serving sentences in penitentiary institutions have the right for secondary education and are offered to get a working specialty free of charge. As of today, 2,522 students are studying in colleges under the CCES.

In general, the issues on the agenda were discussed in a constructive and open format. State body and NGO officials had an opportunity exchange directly views and recommendations.