Concern raised over Kyrgyzstan Prison conditions
COPENHAGEN, 26 January 2012 – Matteo Mecacci, Chair of the OSCE PA human rights committee today called for respect of human rights and easing of conditions in Kyrgyzstan prisons after the government reported 80 per cent of the country's prisoners are on a hunger strike.
More than 400 detainees in four correctional facilities in Kyrgyzstan are reported to have sewn their mouths shut as part of a protest demanding improved prison conditions.
The inmates' actions follow the shutting down of the last common cell, in which inhabitants had the freedom to move around in day and night.
OSCE Secretary General visits Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 24 January 2012 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier stressed the importance of parliamentary engagement today during a meeting with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver.
The two discussed prospects for closer co-operation between the Assembly and OSCE executive structures, including enhancing the OSCE's efforts to prevent and respond to emerging crisis situations.
British MPs debate OSCE in House of Lords
COPENHAGEN, 20 January 2012 – The British government should report more frequently to Parliament on its activities within the OSCE, and the OSCE in Vienna should co-operate more fully with the Parliamentary Assembly, members of the British House of Lords said this week.
Lord Peter Bowness (United Kingdom) and other British parliamentarians made the comments during an hour-long debate about the 56-country OSCE. (Watch the debate here.)
"If Her Majesty's government is convinced of the importance and relevance of the OSCE, surely statements should be written to parliament after every summit and every ministerial, formal or informal, and from time to time to bring parliament up to date," said Bowness. "It's difficult to believe there is nothing in the course of a year which merits some report to parliament."
Kazakhstan’s parliamentary vote, though well administered, did not meet key democratic principles
ASTANA, 16 January 2012 – Notwithstanding the government's stated ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan's democratic processes and conduct elections in line with international standards, yesterday's early parliamentary vote still did not meet fundamental principles of democratic elections, the international observers concluded in a statement issued today.
The elections were well administered at the technical level and the observers noted legal changes aimed at ensuring representation of at least a second party in parliament, but the authorities did not provide the necessary conditions for the conduct of genuinely pluralistic elections. Several political parties were blocked from standing and a number of candidates were de-registered without due process.
Soares to lead OSCE Parliamentary Assembly observers to Kazakhstan
COPENHAGEN, 11 January 2012 – The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, on Monday appointed OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Emeritus Joao Soares Special Co-ordinator to lead the OSCE election observation mission to the 15 January early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan.
"I look forward to seeing how Kazakhstan's electoral process functions since legal changes were enacted after the 2007 parliamentary elections," Soares said today. "As Chair-in-Office in 2010, Kazakhstan worked hard to promote the OSCE, now we will observe how the country is upholding their OSCE commitments to democratic elections."