In Kazakhstan, a unique electronic library on human rights and a document database titled “International Obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Field of Human Rights” has been established. The Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) presents the results of many years of work by a team of compilers in forming the library and document database.
The electronic human rights library is unique in that it attempts, for the first time, to structure documents concerning all fundamental human rights and freedoms in two of the six official languages of the United Nations – Russian and English. It compiles documents from various international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, European organizations (including the European Union and the Council of Europe), Asia, Africa, and America, as well as foreign and Kazakhstani legislation.
The library’s archive consists of more than 200,000 documents, organized into 44 sections. It includes international law documents, including “soft law,” jurisprudence of international treaty bodies, foreign and Kazakhstani human rights legislation, methodological materials and manuals, educational and other resources.
The first three sections are devoted to historical documents, international institutions and organizations, international instruments, and the interpretation of international human rights law. The next thirty-two sections address individual rights and freedoms as defined in international law. A separate block consists of general sections, including the development of democracy; the rule of law, constitutionalism, the development of the legal system; the development of human rights, national human rights institutions; security, counter-terrorism, the activities of the army and special services; combating crime, corruption, the activities of law enforcement agencies. The library concludes with sections dedicated to education and resources in the field of human rights.
Library materials are available at [https://new.hrlib.kz/](https://new.hrlib.kz/) (the sections are currently being filled).
The document database “International Obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Field of Human Rights” in the state and Russian languages consists of more than 100,000 documents, also organized into 44 sections. It includes international human rights treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan, documents from international organizations of which the Republic of Kazakhstan is a member, including “soft law” documents, and jurisprudence of international treaty bodies on individual complaints against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The document database materials will be available at [https://mindet.kz/ru/](https://mindet.kz/ru/) (the sections are currently being filled).
The compilers of the library and document database express special gratitude to institutions and organizations that provided technical and financial support in forming the library, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE Program Office in Astana, the US Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Open Society Institute (USA), the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan, the National Endowment for Democracy (USA), Freedom House (USA), the Sigrid Rausing Trust (UK), Stefanus Alliance International (Norway), the Eurasia Foundation – Central Asia, and others.
**Note:** Intellectual property rights to the structure of the library and document database belong to Evgeny Zhovtis, Director of the KIBHR.
**For inquiries:** +7 701 739 8182, Svetlana Khizhnichenko (KIBHR)
