Kyrgyz insights from visiting Denmark

A delegation of employees from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice together with new Minister of Justice, Uran Akhmetov, visited Denmark in March.

The delegation visited the Danish Ministry of Justice, the Police, the Danish Parliament and the General Prosecutor among others. The objective of the visit was to acquire insights on the work, best practices and cooperation of the sister institutions in Denmark. The Kygyz Ministry of Justice is a partner of The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).

We talked with some of the employees about what they learned from the visit:

Mr. Aibek Chotonov, Head of Legal Awareness Department of the Ministry of Justice (shown above)

What have you learned during this visit?

First of all, we became aware of the activities of state bodies of Denmark, of the methods of work, of the system of state service in Denmark. We learned a lot about the electronic system of documentation flow; it was very beneficial and interesting for us, as we want to implement it now in Kyrgyzstan. We had practical training; however, I would like to see more of them down the road, so that the future study tours contain both some theoretical element and practical experience, so that we are able to receive the necessary information directly from the employees.

Why is it important to come to Denmark instead of just studying our system from home?

The Internet can provide only general information. Moreover, the information present there may not be even new. Instead, we needed to see it all ourselves and ask the relevant questions. There are always some little details, in which we are interested to know more about. This is why we have decided to come here.

What do you think of the collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights?

We actively cooperate with DIHR for 2 years. I think that we will continue bolstering our collaboration, as we have collective plans, as we enlarge the framework of the cooperation and involve other state bodies in this process.

Ms. Saira Yzakova, Head of Department of Legislative Regulations of the Ministry of Justice

What have you learned during this visit?

We learned a lot about law making in Denmark, the functioning of the Ministry of Justice of Denmark, the interaction between government and parliament and many other things.

Why is it important to come to Denmark instead of just studying our system from home?

I think that seeing everything first hand, visiting state bodies, discussing the work with the people who actually work here is more effective that studying the system from home. It is not easy to find the exact information needed on the internet, it is easier to ask questions, make connections and study the peculiarities while having the direct personal contact.

What do you think of the collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights?

I am glad we cooperate with DIHR, as it links us with the legislative system of Denmark. It has really astonished me - the legal consciousness and sense of justice is very high here. I was impressed with the friendliness of people here. I think we have a lot to learn from Denmark, so we have a direction in our development. DIHR helps to establish this cooperation. Moreover, DIHR itself makes a great contribution into the development of the legal system in Denmark, so the experience of DIHR is crucial for us to know as well.

Ms. Tamara Imanalieva, Head of Legal Expertise Department of the Ministry of Justice

What have you learned during this visit?

Methods, principles of work of the legislative department of the Ministry of Justice. I liked the fact that the content of the draft law is considered on the expert level, not on the level of senior officers. I was impressed by the abandonment of the system of providing decisions in printed form (it saves time) and phone discussions of them. This demonstrates a high level of trust and professionalism of all the employees.

Why is it important to come to Denmark instead of just studying our system from home?

It is always better to have a practical experience, where you can ask the questions to the specialist and receive a detailed answer. Using the Internet, one is able to study only the information present there, with no chance of asking any questions.

What do you think of the collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights?

I am very optimistic about the prospects of our collaboration – I think we will have a fruitful cooperation in the future as well.