Centre in Astana

Background

The Centre in Astana was established as the Centre in Almaty in 1998 before it was renamed in 2007. It promotes the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments, facilitates contacts and exchanges of information, and provides assistance to the Government of Kazakhstan.

In 2013, the Centre continued active co-operation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) of Kazakhstan and other law enforcement agencies, and focused on efforts to familiarize the host country’s law enforcement agencies with best practices in democratic policing with a particular focus on countering VERLT, combating drug trafficking, public assembly management, and the fight against the criminal use of cyberspace.

The Centre also engaged the MoIA and other law enforcement agencies in international and regional activities organized by the OSCE Chairmanship and the TNTD/SPMU. Participation in these events provided Kazakhstan’s representatives with valuable information and contacts both regionally and throughout the OSCE area. The education of police officers continued to be the focus of the Centre’s activities in 2013.

Criminal Legislation

The Centre kept supporting the host country’s efforts to bring legislation and law-enforcement practices in line with OSCE commitments and international standards. It assisted national stakeholders in organizing five high-level conferences and four expert meetings to discuss draft Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes. The meetings involved representatives of the MoIA and other law-enforcement bodies. The Centre provided international expertise in a number of thematic sessions related, inter alia, to the criminal procedure’s simplification, judicial control, status of defence lawyers and juvenile justice. In November, the Centre arranged a visit of members of the parliamentary Criminal Procedure Code Working Group to Ukraine to study its experience in implementing a new Criminal Procedure Code.

In December, the Centre, in co-operation with the parliamentary Committee for Legislative and Judicial Reform, a national NGO and Penal Reform International co-organized three expert meetings on criminal justice reform at the Parliament. The discussions focused on the

“abolition of the initiation of criminal case” – a special stage in the criminal process that remained in the legislation from the past, as well as on the early or conditional release from detention and the judicial control in criminal proceedings.

As the penitentiary system institutionally belongs to the MoIA in Kazakhstan, the Centre was engaged in a series of activities related to prison reform. In support of the humanization of the criminal-executive system and reform at both the legislative and practical level, the Centre supported a number of conferences, expert meetings and parliamentary committee hearings. The first International Penal Forum concerning the use of probation and electronic bracelets instead of prison sentences was aimed at sharing experience and plans for the expansion of the probation service in Kazakhstan and the introduction of electronic monitoring of offenders. In co-operation with the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Presidential Administration and Penal Reform International, the Centre facilitated the presentation and public discussion at a high level of the national concepts on reconciliation and extra-judicial dispute resolution and on the reduction of the prison population.

Police Development

On 18 November, the Centre and the MoIA co-organized a public discussion of the draft Law on Fingerprint and Genomic Registration in Astana. Some 50 government officials, parliamentarians, legal experts, representatives of civil society and academia discussed the advantages of fingerprint and genomic registration in countering different types of crime and the technical aspects of introducing the law. Special attention was paid to the importance of due regard for respect for human rights, as well as potential problems with introducing such a system, including possible breaches in data security and false accusations.

On 24-25 October, the Centre supported the participation of three representatives from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the MoIA and the Agency on Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes in the Annual Police Experts Meeting in Vienna, Austria (see also chapter 2.2).

Training Development

On 25 October, the Centre, in partnership with the MoIA and the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law NGO, organized a master class on human rights education for 20 police college instructors from various regions in Astana. The seminars built on the outcomes and recommendations of the Centre’s multi-year project launched in 2010 aimed at establishing human rights education as an integral curriculum component at the police training facilities. The Bureau’s trainers conducted courses with interactive elements introducing best practices and international experience. Participants also received an updated handbook in the Kazakh and Russian languages tailored to teach and train police officers on legal and practical aspects of human rights protection.

Criminal Investigations/Criminal Intelligence

On 4-5 April, the Centre supported a workshop in Burabay on the revised “Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Standards.” The workshop was organized by the World Bank and Kazakhstan’s Committee for Financial Monitoring of the Finance Ministry with the support of the OCEEA and the US Embassy in Kazakhstan. Some 60 participants from Kazakhstan’s ministries, law-enforcement agencies, and financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and national professional associations studied the recent revisions to the FATF international standards. The revisions addressed ways to combat money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The implementation of the revised FATF was expected to increase financial transparency and strengthen security nationally, regionally and globally.

From 1-4 October, the Centre, in co-operation with the MoIA, organized a four-day training seminar on a legislative framework to combat money laundering derived from drug trafficking in Almaty. Some 25 representatives from the Police Academy in Almaty and regional departments of internal affairs responsible for investigating money laundering-related crimes learned about best international practices in tracing funds and prosecuting cases involving the laundering of drug money. Experts from the United States shared their country’s experience in combating the crime. Participants also learned how profits from drug trafficking are channelled to finance terrorism. The Head of the TNTD/ATU was among the expert speakers at the seminar. He also met the MoIA’s Academy managers to discuss possible co-operation.

Anti-Corruption

On 3-4 October, the Centre supported a two-day national training seminar on preventing and combating corruption in Almaty for over 25 high- and mid-level experts from the law enforcement agencies of Kazakhstan. The event was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in

Astana together with the EU/UNDP Border Management Programme in Central Asia and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. The objective of the seminar was to raise participants’ awareness of anti-corruption policies and tools and strengthen their professional skills in applying them

On 15 November, the Centre supported an international conference on approaches to countering corruption and ensuring economic security, co-organized jointly with the Financial Police Agency. Over 70 participants from government institutions, law enforcement agencies, scientific and educational establishments as well as civil society representatives took part in the conference, where international experts shared their knowledge of advanced strategies and techniques to minimize the risks of economic crime, and to prevent and fight corruption.

Counter-Terrorism

On 19-21 June, the Centre and the EU/UNDP Border Management Programme in Central Asia co-organized a training seminar on countering organized crime and terrorism for representatives of law enforcement agencies in Aktau, Mangystau Region. 20 border and customs officials, representatives of the National Security Committee, the Financial Police, the MoIA and its regional departments were trained in best practices to prevent and combat organized crime and terrorism, including practical exercises and simulations. The event highlighted the importance of inter-agency co-operation in addressing threats to security stemming from organized crime and terrorism and the importance of interaction of institutions on a national level and across borders.

From 3-5 October, the Centre supported a three-day seminar on countering violent extremism co-organized with the Institute of the Prosecutor General’s Office in in Atyrau. The event brought together 50 representatives from law enforcement agencies and regional authorities to discuss the prevention of violent extremism and terrorism, as well as the identification of factors leading to intolerance and radicalization. The development of a co-ordination mechanism between law enforcement, other state agencies and civil society to prevent violent extremism and terrorism was also on the agenda.

Gender/Domestic Violence

The Centre supported a number of projects aimed at promoting gender equality, and preventing and countering domestic violence. These have included the promotion of adoption of the draft laws On the Prevention of Domestic Violence and On Equal Access and Opportunities for Men and Women, as well as follow-up activities on raising awareness among legal professionals, capacity-building in implementing the law, and the development of clear procedures and guidelines on how the laws are to be enforced.

In April, the Centre supported a three-day training seminar in the framework of a project-seminar “University for Lawyers 2013”. The project-seminar gathered 18 NGO lawyers working on domestic violence cases from the countrywide Union of Crisis Centres NGO network and six Almaty police officers from departments dedicated to women’s protection. The training was provided by government officials, judges, lawyers and academicians.

In July, some 50 officials, including representatives of the MoIA and officials from central government agencies and local executive authorities responsible for gender equality issues participated in an international two-day training seminar on gender mainstreaming, women and security. The event was co-organized by the Centre and the National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President, with the support of the Akmola Region Administration. The event focused on how the principle of gender equality is implemented in Kazakhstan and what practices still give rise to discrimination against women.

In October, the Centre supported four training seminars on gender aspects and legal mechanisms of work with victims of domestic violence, aimed at supporting the implementation of national legislation in that field. Legal experts conducted workshops for 100 police officers from seven districts of Almaty city. The event was part of a three-year project to support the implementation of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, adopted in 2009. The project was co-funded by UN Women and implemented in co-operation with the NGO Podrugi.

Cybercrime

From 12-15 March, the Centre, in partnership with the Academy of Financial Police of Kazakhstan and the US Embassy, organized a four-day training course on “Cybercrime Investigation Techniques” in Astana, for representatives of the Financial Police, Supreme Court, Prosecutor General’s Office, the Finance Ministry’s Committee on Financial Monitoring, the nongovernmental Association on Countering the Laundering of Illegal Assets, central and commercial banks, police and other officials. The course, which was delivered by five experts from the US, Turkey and Ukraine, was tailored to the specific needs of Kazakhstan and included best practices and techniques related to cybercrime investigation and prosecution, anti-money laundering, and countering the financing of terrorism.

From 3-5 December, the Centre co-organized jointly with the MoIA a three-day training seminar in Astana, on “Countering Cybercrime” for 20 police officers from the MoIA and its regional departments. During the seminar, international experts presented good practices for preventing and countering cybercrime as well as techniques related to cybercrime investigation. The training programme included such topics as criminological characteristics of cybercrime, handling of electronic evidence, technical examination of computers and methods of carrying out investigations with binding evidence.

Trafficking in Human Beings

On 21-22 May, the Centre facilitated the participation of key national experts from the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Labour and Social Protection at a roundtable in Istanbul on “Building National Referral Mechanisms: Gaps Analysis and Good Practices”. The roundtable was organized by ODIHR within the project on Human Rights Protection for Trafficked Persons and Vulnerable Groups in Central Asia (see also Annex 2).

On 10-11 June, the Centre supported the participation of the Head of the Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office in a conference on countering trafficking in human beings organized by the OSCE Chairmanship in Kyiv. The Head of Centre also participated in the event.

On 1-3 July, the OSCE SR/CTHB visited Astana to hold high-level meetings and exchange views on advanced ways and means to meet the challenges of transnational trafficking.

During her visit, the SR/CTHB met with high-ranking government officials, including the Justice Minister and representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Criminal Police Committee at the MoIA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Centre. She also visited an NGO-run rehabilitation centre for trafficking victims. The Centre facilitated and participated in the meetings (see. also chapter 3.3).

On 21 November, the Centre supported the last in a series of eight training seminars aimed at improving judicial practice in criminal cases related to trafficking in human beings. The events were organized in co-operation with the Public Administration Academy, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Embassy. Over the course of ten months, some 250 judges from all

regions of Kazakhstan learned how best to use national and international legal tools in dealing with THB cases.

Drug Trafficking

On 4-7 June, the Centre, jointly with the MoIA organized a four-day training seminar on the

“Detection of Drugs in Trains and Other Means of Large-scale Transport.” Some 25 representatives from regional internal affairs departments responsible for combating drug trafficking learned about best international practices on the detection of drugs in trains, trucks, cars and other vehicles. Participants also learned about general developments in preventing and combating transnational drug trafficking. Experts from Georgia and Russia shared their countries’ experience in this field.

On 24-28 July, the Centre supported the participation of an Interior Ministry representative in the OSCE-wide Conference on “Prevention of Illicit Drug Trade on the Internet” in Vienna (see also chapter 2.2).

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