The Special Rapporteur’s factsheet summarizing his official visit to Kazakhstan in January 2015 highlights issues surrounding the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and is presented in an easy-to use “yes/no” format, with hyperlinks to source materials. This factsheet draws heavily from the Special Rapporteur’s report on the Kazakhstan visit, which was presented to the Human Rights Council in June 2015. It provides details and analysis of: • The authorization process for peaceful assemblies in Kazakhstan • The registration of associations, and the Government’s role in regulating the civil society sector • Difficulties faced by political parties and religious associations • The Special Rapporteur’s findings and recommendations • A note on an "disturbing surveillance incident in Aktau" • The Government of Kazakhstan's response to the report • And more The factsheet also gives background information on Kazakhstan, including vital statistics and its “scorecard” on ratifying key UN human rights treaties. For the Special Rapporteur’s full factsheet series, please see:... Continue reading →
(English) АСТАНА/ЖЕНЕВА – Специальный докладчик ООН Майна Киаи завершил свой официальный визит в Казахстан во вторник, призвав Правительство содействовать и расширять демократическое пространство, в частности в отношении права на свободу мирных собраний и права на свободу объединений, основываясь на экономических успехах последних 23 лет. Он выразил разочарование в связи с предположительным наблюдением за людьми, с которыми он встречался. Г-н Киаи сообщил, что после встречи с представителями гражданского общества 23 января в Актау неизвестные фотографировали людей, выходящих из здания, что было похоже на секретное полицейское наблюдение. Специальный докладчик сообщил об этом полиции. Позже полиция представила... Continue reading →
(ру́сский язы́к) ASTANA/GENEVA – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai completed an official visit to Kazakhstan on Tuesday by challenging the Government to build on its achievements in the economic arena over the last 23 years by facilitating and opening up democratic space, in particular the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. He also expressed disappointment at an incident where his sources appeared to come under police surveillance. Mr. Kiai said that on 23 January, after he left a meeting with civil society representatives in Aktau, unknown persons were photographing individuals exiting the building “in a manner commonly associated with secret police surveillance.” The Special Rapporteur reported the incident to police, who later produced a suspect, along with a written “confession.” Mr. Kiai said that the suspect was unequivocally not the same person who was taking photographs. The Special Rapporteur noted that the Government’s tendency to focus on restrictions, rather than the rights themselves, had resulted in a situation where rights were treated as privileges to be granted at the discretion of State authorities. He applauded the Government’s efforts to ensure cohesion, but noted that “maintaining stability is often misused... Continue reading →
(English version) Я хотел бы поблагодарить Правительство Республики Казахстан за приглашение посетить страну. Правительство Казахстана распространило постоянное приглашение на все специальные процедуры, и я очень ценю тот факт, что даты моего визита были быстро согласованы. Я рассматриваю этот шаг как намерение Правительства участвовать в конструктивном диалоге о праве на свободу мирных собраний и праве на свободу объединений, помимо других прав человека. Я очень рад этой возможности посетить и больше узнать о Казахстане. Кроме того, я бы хотел поблагодарить людей, с которыми я встретился, за сотрудничество, доброту и гостеприимство, оказанное моим коллегам и мне в ходе моего визита, и которые еще раз подтвердили... Continue reading →
(ру́сский язы́к) ASTANA - I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for inviting me to undertake this official mission here. The Government of Kazakhstan has standing invitations to Special Rapporteurs and I appreciate that it readily agreed dates for this visit. This is a positive step that I take as expressive of the Government’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, among other human rights. I am delighted to have had this chance to visit Kazakhstan and learn more about it. I would also like to thank the people I met for the cooperation, kindness and hospitality extended to my team and I throughout the mission. They have confirmed Kazakhstan’s well-known tradition and reputation of warmth to visitors. I thank the Government of Kazakhstan for its co-operation before and during this mission, including facilitating my visit to meet Mr. Vladimir Kozlov, the jailed leader of Alga! party who is serving a seven-and-a-half-year jail term. I have met a variety of interlocutors including members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches and have had productive exchanges. I also met representatives of central authorities in Astana, representatives of regional and local... Continue reading →
Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai undertook an official mission to the Republic of Kazakhstan Jan. 19-27, 2015. The visit was carried out pursuant to his mandate to assess the situation of freedoms of peaceful assembly and association in the country. The Special Rapporteur concluded his visit by challenging the Government to build on its achievements in the economic arena over the last 23 years by facilitating and opening up democratic space, in particular the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. He also said he was “deeply disappointed” at an incident where his sources allegedly came under police surveillance. One of the most pressing issues, the Special Rapporteur said, was the Government’s approach to regulating peaceful assemblies. Although the right is guaranteed by Kazakhstan’s Constitution, all peaceful assemblies must be authorized by local authorities, and even authorized assemblies are limited to specific, government-designated sites. The right to freedom of association is also nominally guaranteed by Kazakhstan’s Constitution, but Kiai said that a web of laws and practices limit the real-world freedom of political parties, public associations, trade unions and religious associations to operate. Maina Kiai’s report on the visit was released in mid-2015,... Continue reading →
(Click here for English) ЖЕНЕВА - Специальный докладчик ООН Майна Киаи посетит Казахстан с 19 по 27 января 2015 года, чтобы дать оценку осуществлению прав на свободу мирных собраний и свободу объединения в стране. Это первый визит в Казахстан независимого эксперта, мандат которого в соответствии с резолюцией Совета ООН по правам человека заключается в отслеживании и продвижении права на свободу мирных собраний и свободу объединения в мире. "Право на свободу мирных собраний и право на свободу объединения являются важным компонентом демократии и развития, и государства обязаны в полной мере уважать и защищать эти права", - заявил независимый эксперт. "В ходе визита я ознакомлюсь с установленными законом требованиям к... Continue reading →
(ру́сский язы́к) GENEVA – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will visit Kazakhstan from 19 to 27 January 2015 to assess the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country. Mr. Kiai’s visit is the first information-gathering mission to Kazakhstan by an independent expert tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and promote the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association worldwide. “The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are essential components of democracy and development, and States have a duty to fully respect and protect these rights,” the independent expert stated. “During my visit, I will look into both the legal requirements for holding peaceful assemblies, and how peaceful assemblies are facilitated in practice,” he said. “I will look into the issues related to the registration of public associations, trade unions, political parties and religious organizations, as well as on the existence of an enabling environment for the free and effective functioning of civil society.” “I will also gather information on how recently adopted legislation, in particular the new Criminal Code and the Code on Administrative Offences, has impacted the enjoyment of freedom of... Continue reading →
GENEVA – A group of United Nations human rights experts* have urged the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan to reject a bill that would introduce criminal and administrative sanctions for acts aimed at forming “a positive attitude towards non-traditional sexual orientation.” “Instead of adopting legislation which de facto condemns lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities to silence, the authorities should be fighting against all forms of violence and discrimination in Kyrgyzstan,” the independent experts said. “The UN has already documented violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan and shown how similar laws in other countries have led to targeted abuse and violence against LGBT persons,” they noted. The draft law passed its first reading at Parliament last month, and must be voted on twice more before going to the President for signature. “If passed, the law would run afoul of the Kyrgyzstan’s human rights obligations and commitments,” they noted. The explanatory note accompanying the bill defines non-traditional sexual relations as ‘sodomy, lesbianism, and other forms of non-traditional sexual behavior’. It proscribes the dissemination of information in the media and internet, as well as the organization and participation in peaceful assemblies... Continue reading →
GENEVA – Two United Nations independent experts on Friday expressed serious concern over the charges brought against three human rights defenders in the aftermath of the 2013 presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Mr. Anar Mammadli and Mr. Bashir Suleymanli, respectively Chairman and Executive Director of the Azerbaijani Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDSC), together with Mr. Elnur Mammadov, President of the Volunteers of International Cooperation Public Union (VIC), are being tried in Baku for conducting business activity by an organized group without registration and abusing official powers, among other charges. They face up to 12 years’ imprisonment. Mr. Mammadli has been in pre-trial detention since 16 December 2013. “We are seriously concerned that the three human rights defenders are being prosecuted in retaliation for their legitimate work in documenting alleged widespread irregularities and human rights violations around the presidential elections of 9 October 2013. All charges brought against them should be dropped and Mr. Mammadli should be released immediately,” urged the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai. Mr. Mammadli was one of the participants in the consultation convened by Mr. Kiai in June... Continue reading →
