EU and Kazakhstan hold Subcommittee on Justice and Home Affairs and the Human Rights Dialogue
On 28-29 November in Astana, the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan held their 15th Subcommittee on Justice and Home Affairs and their 9th Human Rights Dialogue. Both meetings were held in a constructive and open manner, with discussions covering a wide range of issues, including recommendations stemming from extensive consultations with civil society, which were held in advance of the meetings.
Discussions focused notably on political and institutional developments, including recent judicial reforms, new priorities in the fight against corruption and steps to be taken to improve further the mobility of people between Kazakhstan and the EU. Kazakhstan's recent access to several Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law constitute an important development, while Kazakhstan should further strengthen its judiciary system and legislation in view of its recent efforts to fight against corruption and in order to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. The ongoing reform of the law on legal assistance was raised by the European Union as it risks to undermine the role of the legal profession. The EU and Kazakhstan also discussed the cooperation programme supporting judicial reform in Kazakhstan, as well as the EU-Central Asia Rule of Law initiative.
During the Human Rights Dialogue, the EU echoed the recommendations of civil society related to the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) and to the protection of fundamental freedoms in Kazakhstan. Notably, the EU and Kazakhstan discussed the new laws and policies concerning freedom of information and expression, as well as working conditions of journalists, trade unionists and human rights activists in Kazakhstan. They also reviewed in detail the role of national human rights institutions and of the Ombudsman, notably in monitoring places of detention. The EU encouraged Kazakhstan to review the law on religious association in line with the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and to update the law on trade unions in line with ILO Conventions. The EU referred to the recent prison visit of EU diplomats to Max Bokayev. A number of other individual cases were also discussed.
The delegation of Kazakhstan was headed by Mr Lukin, Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan. The EU delegation was headed by Ms Audrone Perkauskiene, Acting Head of the European External Action Service Central Asia Division.