The OSCE hosted a round table in Astana on February 28, 2025, discussing reforms in Kazakhstan’s justice system. Funded by Poland, Norway, and the U.S., key topics included court administration modernization, judges’ performance evaluation, and judicial education. High-level officials emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation among stakeholders to advance judicial reforms and strengthen the rule of law in Kazakhstan.
On February 28, 2025, the International Round Table entitled “Improving the Effectiveness of the Justice System in Kazakhstan: Achievements and Initiatives” was convened in Astana. This event, funded by an extrabudgetary project backed by Poland, Norway, and the United States, was organized in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s judicial institutions, particularly the Supreme Court and Court Administration. More than 100 participants, including judicial representatives, government officials, and members of academia, gathered to explore significant developments in the justice sector.
Notable attendees included Yerzhan Zhienbayev, the President’s Assistant on Legal Issues, Aslambek Mergaliyev, Chairperson of the Supreme Court, and Elvira Azimova, Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, among others. Participation from civil society included members of the Republican Bar Association, the academic community, and various international organizations, demonstrating a broad representation of perspectives from diverse sectors.
The round table’s discussions were organized into several key components of the project, focusing primarily on the modernization of court administration, evaluation of judges’ professional performance, and enhancement of judicial education. During the first session, speakers highlighted the strategic support provided by the project for improving court efficiency and human resources policies. As stated by Yuri Fenopetov, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the initiative has facilitated ongoing support for judicial modernization and established a robust empirical framework for reform guided by sociological research.
The second session emphasized the evaluation of judges’ performance and the establishment of disciplinary procedures, aiming to promote transparency and ethical accountability within the judiciary. The Chairperson of the Justice Quality Commission noted the significance of the judges’ survey conducted through the project, which contributed valuable recommendations for improving the evaluation frameworks. Pamela Harris, President of the International Association for Court Administration, remarked on the need for continuous adaptation and learning in court administration to achieve enhanced governance and accountability.
Lastly, the discussion addressed the improvement of judicial education, where representatives acknowledged the necessity for collaboration among judiciary stakeholders in the development of training programs for judges and court officials. Aslambek Mergaliyev stressed that judicial reform transcends mere infrastructural updates, representing a strategic aim requiring collective effort to align the justice system with contemporary societal demands and ensure citizen access to justice.
The discussions at the International Round Table highlighted significant advancements in Kazakhstan’s justice system, focusing on modernization, evaluation of judges, and the enhancement of judicial education. The collaborative efforts among various stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to judicial reforms and the strengthening of the rule of law in Kazakhstan. Continued cooperation and implementation of the discussed initiatives are vital for further enhancing the effectiveness of the judicial system.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
