Kazakhstan to allow minors to participate in rallies and demonstrations

AKIPRESS.COM - Minister of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan Dauren Abaev said the norm of the draft law on order of organization and conduct of peaceful assemblies and demonstrations allowing not to inform about the events with under 250 people participating will be revised, baigenews.kz reported.
As ordered by the President, this norm will be reconsidered and permits should be obtained for rallies with less than 250 participants, he said.
The Minister of Information and Social Development said the order of peaceful marches and demonstrations will be different now. "We think not only about those planning to go for rallies, but also about people who are against that. They want safety, silence and rest on days off. Their opinions should be also taken into account," Dauren Abaev emphasized.
The draft law suggests participation of minors in rallies and demonstrations.
"The draft law required earlier rally participants should be above 18 years. We did not want to remove this restriction, but had do to that, since this is the requirement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Kazakhstan, which recognizes child's rights to peaceful assemblies. Thus, citizens above 18 years will be allowed to participate in peaceful assemblies," Minister Abaev said.