DOCUMENT, RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS — ARTICLE BY THE RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY MUHTAR TOLEGEN PUBLISHED IN THE REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER ‘EGEMEN KAZAKHSTAN’

An article by the Rector of Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, Mukhtar Tolegen, titled “A Document Responsible for Human Rights,” was published in the national newspaper Egemen Qazaqstan. In the article, the rector shares his detailed reflections on the significance of the draft Constitution and its contribution to ensuring citizens’ rights and freedoms.

As Mukhtar Tolegen notes, the Constitution is the foundation of the country’s legal system. He emphasizes that it is the most important document defining the strategic directions of all branches of government, as well as domestic and foreign policy. In addition, the Constitution serves as the basis for administrative, civil, criminal, labor, and other branches of law.

As a legal professional, the rector closely follows the work of the Constitutional Commission reviewing proposals for the draft Constitution. The draft underwent broad public discussion, during which about 2,000 proposals were submitted. All of them were carefully examined, and as a result, the Constitutional Commission proposed amendments to 84% of the Constitution’s text. This initiative received broad public support.

The article particularly highlights that the new draft Constitution, for the first time at the constitutional level, clearly and systematically enshrines the principles of “Fair Kazakhstan” and “Law and Order.” These principles are aimed at strengthening the rule of law, forming a fair system of governance, and protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms.

The rector also draws special attention to Article 16-1, which strengthens guarantees of citizens’ rights. It закрепляет the principles of presumption of innocence, prohibition of double jeopardy for the same offense, and the absence of any obligation to prove one’s innocence. This provision directly affirms the priority of citizens’ rights and freedoms.

In addition, significant changes have been introduced to Articles 17–21. In particular: Paragraph 20-1 states that human dignity is inviolable and protected by law; Paragraph 20-2 states that no one shall be subjected to torture, violence, or other cruel or degrading treatment or punishment.

According to Mukhtar Tolegen, these provisions clearly demonstrate that the Constitution has been developed with consideration of the people’s views and interests. The updated Basic Law will become a solid foundation for the country’s sustainable development, the building of a just society, and the strengthening of the rule-of-law state.