[JURIST] UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes [official website] Baskut Tuncak on Wednesday called on [press release] Kazakhstan [BBC backgrounder] to increase protections for individuals who live in toxic areas within the country. Tuncak was on an a 14-day mission, during which he visited several cities and towns within Kazakhstan that are known for pollution. He noted that many several individuals were living near “mounds of hazardous waste,” in cities with contaminated air, and near illegal radioactive waste dumpsites. He stated, “[t]hese at-risk populations’ right to life, health, housing, and food are undermined, denied or outright violated due to the effects of hazardous contamination in their environment.” Although Kazakhstan has passed several measures to improve the environment, including the adoption of numerous international human rights and environmental treaties as well as domestic laws, policies and programs, Tuncak said the government still needs to do more.

Kazakhstan has in recent years drawn international criticism for its human rights record. In November 2012 a court in Kazakhstan upheld the conviction [JURIST report] of an outspoken opposition leader accused of inciting dissent in an attempt to overthrow the government. In October 2012 Human Rights Watch claimed that oil workers in the country face mistreatment [JURIST report] and repression at the hands of the government and oil companies. However, along with its recent policies to help their environment Kazakhstan has made leaps to improve their criminal procedure. In January the Kazakhstan prosecutor general announced [JURIST report] the newly adopted criminal procedure code will require police to read suspects their rights when making arrests.