“Judicial system and mass media” forum

Astana, November 06, 2009, Khabar – Dialogue with press as a component of professional activity of judges. The House of Journalists has hosted the first meeting of the forum "The judicial system and mass media. Representatives of the judiciary of the country, Kazakhstan's media, international and nongovernmental organizations have attended the forum. Union of Judges of Kazakhstan and the International Fund for Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz" have organized this forum and their main task is strengthening the partnership of the judiciary and the media. The participants have discussed the quality of publications on legal topics, issues of transparency and fairness of trials. Chairman of the Supreme Court Musabek Alimbekov believes that the level of confidence in the courts is increasing largely due to a constructive dialogue between journalists and the judiciary.

Musabek Alimbekov, chairman of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan:
- Guaranteeing of openness and transparency in justice, maximal openness of the judicial information has become the strategic course of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan. Setting of dialogue with the public, promoting the progressive reforms aimed at improving the justice system are the key moments of our cooperation with the media.

Seitkazy Matayev, chairman of the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan:
- Union of Judges, the Supreme Court are of few organizations, which meet the wishes of the journalistic community. I think this is such a good dialogue platform, and we hope to get direct answers onto our direct questions while sitting in one room.
The organizers have said sittings of constantly functioning forum will be held in Astana and Almaty in turn. Seminars on covering of theme of justice will be held and manuals for the journalists will be published the next year. It is also supposed to found the guild of court reporters in Kazakhstan.