The goal of this event is to identify key instruments for monitoring children’s rights in institutions through different workshops and visits to institutions located in the city. It is a result of a collaboration between UNICEF, Penal Reform International and the Kazakhstani Ombudsman. The seminar was part of the Norwegian-funded project of strengthening the Ombudsman's child protection system in Kazakhstan. Norway is an eager supporter as it has long been at the international forefront of advocating for children’s rights.
In this regard Ambassador Bjørnøy praised the newfound focus on children’s rights in President Nazarbayev’s 2050 Strategy which said that “(the) protection of children’s rights is one of the most important parts of the new social policy” of Kazakhstan. UNICEF’s representant Radoslav Rzhehak also commented on the increased political will that the 2050 Strategy envisages. He also underlined that in bettering the situation for children in institutions both the national and independent system of monitoring are vital components. The national system of monitoring should work through the Prosecutor General’s Office, national inspectors and the legal system. The independent monitoring system consists of the Ombudsman and civil society. In this regard to strengthen the independent system is to strengthen the human rights of the child, he said.
Secretary of the Committe on Legislation and Judicial Reform in the Parliament, Svetlana Fedorovna Bychkova commented on the importance of national prevention mechanisms and the implementation of the coming new law on children in institutions. This is perfectly in line with the 2050 Strategy where President Nazarbayev emphasized the importance of legislative work, and instructed the government to drastically review the legislation in the sphere of child protection.
UNICEF international expert and former Chairman of the UN committee on Children’s Rights, Jakob Duk, then took the floor. He spoke of implementation of both national and international legislation, but underlined that the most important question is how to monitor progress in the quality of life. Not only to prevent torture, inhuman or degrading treatment of children in institutions, but to closely follow children’s everyday life in an environment that they have not chosen for themselves. He recommended state inspectors as a means of self-monitoring of Kazakhstan’s own international obligations. These should be equipped with a set of indicators and travel around to speak with the institutional staff, and most importantly: the children themselves.
At the end of this two-day event the participants will present a joint toolbox for monitoring children’s rights in institutions in Kazakhstan.
Photo: European Bank og Reconstruction and Development (Creative Commons).