DEMOCRACY

Since independence, the government of Kazakhstan has acted decisively to promote the cohesion and stability of its unique, multi-ethnic society by implementing progressive citizenship and language laws, and by guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and rights. With over 100 nationalities and an ethnic balance strikingly different from other former Soviet states, where the national ethnic group always had a clear majority, Kazakhstan has avoided major ethnic strife. It has achieved this stability in large part because of its progressive policies and record.

Political Pluralism: During its first decade of independence, Kazakhstan introduced a system of phased political reforms. This has led to the existence of eight political parties and over 2,500 international and domestic non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A two-chamber parliament and separate court system function well, and are continuing the process of incremental reform. The election system is being improved gradually, beginning at local government levels. In June 2001, the President signed into law a decree that delegates executive powers and provides for popular elections of regional and local authorities - for the first time in Kazakhstan - in autumn 2001. This is unprecedented in the region and a definitive improvement over historic patterns of centralized control throughout Eurasia.

Inclusive Citizenship Laws: Kazakhstan has one of the most liberal citizenship laws, based on residency, not birth or ethnicity.

Progressive Language Law: The Constitution does not discriminate against the use of any language, including Russian, which has the status of being the official means of communication.

Religious Freedom: Kazakhstan is a secular state in which Islam, Orthodoxy, Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and other faiths (totaling over 3000 religious organizations of 46 denominations and confessions) are all practiced openly and freely. The Government has reiterated its commitment to the current law on religion, which has liberal principles and guarantees of religious pluralism.

On September 22-25, 2001, Pope John Paul II visited Kazakhstan and met with Roman Catholics, numbering some 300,000 in the predominantly Muslim and Orthodox communities of the country. This first-ever Papal visit to Kazakhstan was organized at the official invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Roman Catholics form an integral part of Kazakhstan's ethnically and religiously diverse population of 15 million. Since its independence in 1991 Kazakhstan proclaimed itself a secular state promoting religious freedom and tolerance.

Minority Representation: As part of Kazakhstan's ongoing commitment to ethnic stability the Assembly of Peoples plays an important role in the Republic. Representing over 100 nationalities and ethnic groups, it is empowered to give recommendations to the Head of the State, the Parliament, and the Government on matters of interest to social and ethnic groups.

Human Rights: The Government established a Presidential Commission on Human Rights to receive and investigate complaints on human rights abuses. In addition, Kazakhstan is a party to 15 major international conventions and instruments to protect its citizens' rights.

The Mass Media: Kazakhstan is far ahead of the majority of the post-Soviet countries in terms of the development of its mass media and enabling legislation. After independence, Kazakhstan abolished the former Soviet practice of state censorship, which contributed to the increase in the number of mass media since 1991. Three-quarters of Kazakhstan's 1,431 mass media and information agencies are widely held in private hands, including 950 newspapers and 342 journals - 29 of which are religious in nature, an impossibility during Soviet times. There are 124 independent television and radio stations, of which 76 operate on independent frequencies. The number of politically oriented publications has risen from a few dozen in 1991 to 256 in 2001.