The practice of reviewing complaints by the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article analyzes the institutional development and effectiveness of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan after the reforms of 2021-2022. The adoption of the Law and the subsequent Constitutional Law on the Commissioner helped to strengthen his status and bring it closer to international standards such as the Paris Principles. A significant increase in the human resources capacity of the Commissioner's working body, the National Center for Human Rights, and the establishment of regional representative offices have significantly expanded citizens' access to mechanisms for the protection of human rights. A statistical analysis of appeals for 2020-2023 revealed not only a general increase in the number of appeals, but also a disproportionate increase in complaints about the actions of investigative authorities, judicial decisions and violations of the rights of convicts, which indicates persistent systemic problems. At the same time, the increase in complaints on labor rights, social security and housing rights mainly corresponds to an increase in the total number of complaints. The article notes the continuing institutional limitations, including the non-binding nature of the Commissioner's conclusions and the lack of responsibility for late provision of information by authorities. Despite a moderate improvement in the international human rights and rule of law indices for Kazakhstan, further improvement of mechanisms for the protection of human rights and improving the effectiveness of the Commissioner's work are required to ensure sustainable progress.