The conference brought together more than 100 participants, including representatives of the government, parliament, the judiciary, academia, and non-governmental and international organizations, as well as international experts, to discuss various models of administrative justice systems.

"We welcome Kazakhstan’s adoption in its Legal Policy Concept 2010-2020 of a new vision for the development of administrative justice, which is in line with the best practices in the OSCE participating States," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

"I hope it will find its way into the draft legislation which is being elaborated in this important area of law. An effective system of administrative justice is an essential element of rule of law and a key institution to improve access to justice in any country."

Mukhambet Kopeev, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate, said: "We are working to reform Kazakhstan’s administrative law with a view to promoting the rights of citizens in their relationship with the state. This goal was spelled out in the president’s annual address to the nation."

The conference was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Senate Committee on Legislation and Legal Issues and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). It complements the Centre’s activities to strengthen dialogue between experts and policy makers on administrative legislation reform.