Government Unlikely to Sign European Human Rights Pact
Government Unlikely to Sign European Human Rights Pact
Despite a campaign by pressure groups trying to get Kazakstan to sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights, NBCentralAsia commentators say the authorities will be reluctant to take the idea up for fear that they would lose control over the courts.
At a press conference on August 2, the lawyers’ association Legal Initiative and the Women’s Legal Rights Centre urged the authorities to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Acceding to the convention would give Kazakstan’s citizens the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
NBCentralAsia observers agree that the aim is worth pursuing, but warn that the government will be reluctant to accept the authority of an external court.
To date, 46 countries have signed the European Convention on Human Rights since it was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950.
Of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia have joined. And it is their experience that is deterring Kazakstan from doing likewise, says political analyst Eduard Poletaev.
“Russia has had the most referrals to the court at Strasbourg. The authorities here are seriously concerned that Kazakstan could face a similar situation as so many unresolved issues have piled up over the 15 years of independence,” he said.
“While there would undoubtedly be clear political benefits [to the government] from signing the convention, these would be far outweighed by the size of the damages people would claim.”
Independent observer Daur Dosybiev agrees that the authorities have steered clear of joining the convention because “they fear a tidal wave of cases brought by Kazak citizens”.
In addition, signing would require Kazakstan to bring its legislation in line with international standards.
(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)
At a press conference on August 2, the lawyers’ association Legal Initiative and the Women’s Legal Rights Centre urged the authorities to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Acceding to the convention would give Kazakstan’s citizens the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
NBCentralAsia observers agree that the aim is worth pursuing, but warn that the government will be reluctant to accept the authority of an external court.
To date, 46 countries have signed the European Convention on Human Rights since it was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950.
Of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia have joined. And it is their experience that is deterring Kazakstan from doing likewise, says political analyst Eduard Poletaev.
“Russia has had the most referrals to the court at Strasbourg. The authorities here are seriously concerned that Kazakstan could face a similar situation as so many unresolved issues have piled up over the 15 years of independence,” he said.
“While there would undoubtedly be clear political benefits [to the government] from signing the convention, these would be far outweighed by the size of the damages people would claim.”
Independent observer Daur Dosybiev agrees that the authorities have steered clear of joining the convention because “they fear a tidal wave of cases brought by Kazak citizens”.
In addition, signing would require Kazakstan to bring its legislation in line with international standards.
(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)
