Protection of Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment and Prevention of Domestic Violence was Discussed at the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan

Protection of Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment and Prevention of Domestic Violence was Discussed at the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan

Astana, August 27, 2025 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the regular meeting of the subgroup under the Consultative and Advisory Body “Dialogue Platform on the Human Dimension”, dedicated to the protection of children’s rights in the digital environment and prevention of domestic violence.

The event was attended by the Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the National Center for Human Rights, relevant ministries, Kazakhstani human rights NGOs, representatives of civil society, as well as the guests from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Alua Nadirkulova, emphasized that, following the mandate of the President of Kazakhstan, large-scale legislative and strategic measures are being implemented to protect children’s rights. Measures have been introduced to toughen penalties for crimes against children and to establish administrative liability for bullying of minors.

Special attention was given to the new Law “On the Rights of Women and the Safety of Children”. UN Women Kazakhstan Senior Adviser, and the first representative from Central Asia elected to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Madina Jarbussynova, noted that the adoption of this Law is a historic step toward building a safe society. She also announced the establishment of the Central Asian Alliance on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, uniting five countries of the region with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, UN Women, and the European Union.

On the issue of protecting children in the digital environment, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan, Yulia Ovechkina, presented new approaches: the introduction of a new subject “Global Competencies” for grades 5-9, which includes modules on media literacy, as well as awareness-raising campaigns such as “Cyber Tumar” and “Parental Control.” These initiatives aim to foster safe online behavior among children and strengthen parental engagement in digital upbringing.

Regarding the second topic, Senior Inspector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, Galiya Otepova, reported that following the adoption of the above-mentioned Law, the number of homicides decreased 2-3 times, while cases of serious bodily harm within families declined by 25%. She also presented the Kazakhstani Standard for Domestic Violence Risk Assessment, developed on the basis of the international ODARA project (Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment). This tool makes it possible to identify individuals at high risk of reoffending and provides for mandatory psychological assistance for aggressors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants underlined that the practical implementation of new legislative initiatives, along with the joint efforts of the state, civil society, and international partners, play a key role in strengthening the human rights protection system in Kazakhstan.

For reference: The Human Dimension Dialogue Platform was established in 2013 at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The platform serves as an effective mechanism for fostering dialogue between the state and civil society. It provides a space for discussing pressing human rights issues, with the participation of observers from international organizations.