UN human rights and counter-terrorism expert on first mission to Kazakhstan

Kazakh version | Russian

GENEVA (9 May 2019) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, will visit Kazakhstan for the first time from 10 to 17 May to assess the impact on human rights of counter-terrorism practices and laws.

“I will have discussions about the country’s counter-terrorism policy and legal framework, as well as review relevant legislative acts, with a view to ensure that Government measures comply with international human rights law,” said Ní Aoláin

During her eight-day mission, the independent expert is scheduled to meet Government representatives from various ministries, law enforcement officials, members of parliament, police specialists and the Ombudsman. She will visit detention centres to interview people suspected or convicted of terrorist and extremist crimes.

Ní Aoláin, who is visiting at the invitation of the Government, will also hold talks with representatives of the international community, lawyers, academics, and NGOs. She will visit Nur-Sultan and spend several days in other areas, including Almaty.

Ní Aoláin will share her preliminary observations with the media during a press conference on Friday, 17 May at 12 pm, at UN House, Mambetov St 14, Nur-Sultan. Copies of her end-of-mission statement and press release will be available in Kazakh, Russian and English.  Access to the press conference is limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report with her findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2020.

Ms Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin (Ireland), the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, took up her functions on 1 August 2017. She is a University Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota; holder of the Robina Chair in Law, Public Policy, and Society; and faculty director of the Human Rights Center at the University of Minnesota Law School. She is concurrently a Professor of Law at the University of Ulster’s Transitional Justice Institute in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is co-founder and associate director of the Institute.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page - Kazakhstan

For more information and media requests please contact :
During the visit: Mr. Peter Naderer: +996 770 70 10 36/ pnaderer@ohchr.org
In Geneva : Mr. Christophe Peschoux: +41 22 917 93 81 / cpeschoux@ohchr.org) or write to srct@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Jeremy Laurence – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)