CAT/OP/KAZ/1/Add.1
74.
However, such issues are discussed at meetings of the Coordinating Council and in
other forums. At the National Preventive Mechanism Forum on 16 and 17 May 2017, it was
recommended that, to raise public awareness of the work of the mechanism and the regional
teams, their activities should be widely publicized, including during preventive visits and
through interaction with the media.
75.
Each year, the Coordinating Council under the Human Rights Commissioner prepares
the consolidated report of the national preventive mechanism members of the preventive
visits conducted, which provides an analysis of the current year’s activities and key issues
related to the prevention of torture, with examples of cases of violations of citizens’ rights to
freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
76.
The report is made public during an open presentation and dialogue between civil
society and government agencies. The annual consolidated reports on the outcome of the
mechanism’s activities over three years was presented in an international forum and
coordinated with the tenth anniversary of the entry into force
77.
of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Paragraph 31
The Subcommittee recommends that the State party raise awareness of the Optional
Protocol and the mandate of the national preventive mechanism in order to increase
the mechanism’s visibility. Recommendations issued by the mechanism should be
widely discussed. Moreover, the mechanism should engage in legislative processes and
advocacy, as encouraged under article 19 of the Optional Protocol.
78.
In accordance with the law, after each preventive visit, the members of the national
preventive mechanism send recommendations to the administration of the facility concerned
and, in the case of special visits, to the procuratorial authorities.
79.
In line with the plan of action for the implementation of the recommendations made
during the universal periodic review and by the Human Rights Committee, the annual
consolidated reports on the outcome of the activities of the national preventive mechanism
in Kazakhstan are presented to the public at a conference, which offers the possibility of a
constructive dialogue between government agencies and civil society (three reports, for 2014,
2015 and 2016, have been presented).
80.
In November 2016, to support the national preventive mechanism in improving
legislation, proposals were put to the Majilis on the further modernization of the Criminal
Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penalties Enforcement Code; they had been
drawn up with the participation of the Coordinating Council and members of the national
preventive mechanism on the basis of an analysis of preventive visits conducted.
81.
The Human Rights Commissioner and one member of the Coordinating Council sit
on the Legal Policy Council, which discusses legislative initiatives from government
agencies.
82.
The members of the Coordinating Council of the national preventive mechanism
participate in working groups under the Parliament and government agencies that discuss
bills that have been drawn up; they also sit on the public councils attached to central and
government agencies.
83.
To raise public awareness of the work of the national preventive mechanism, it is
present on social media and information on its activities is posted on the official website of
the Human Rights Commissioner.
Paragraph 32
The Subcommittee also recommends that the State party and the national preventive
mechanism enter into a continuous dialogue, with a view to implementing the
mechanism’s recommendations to improve the treatment and conditions of persons
deprived of their liberty and to prevent torture and other ill-treatment or punishment.
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