Kazakhstan Sets Regional Benchmark in Positive Parenting Practices

Kazakhstan has presented notable achievements in child protection during a regional conference on eliminating violence against children, held in Bucharest, Romania.

The event, co-hosted by UNICEF and the Romanian Government, gathered representatives from 32 countries across Europe and Central Asia, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

Nassymzhan Ospanova, Chair of the Committee, represented Kazakhstan and spoke during the panel discussion “Creating Safe and Supportive Environments in Schools and Families.” In her remarks, she underscored Kazakhstan’s ongoing efforts to reduce violence and promote child welfare through legislative reforms and systemic support.

A key moment at the conference was the release of data from the 2024 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which showed a significant decline in the use of physical punishment and psychological aggression in Kazakhstan-from 53 per cent to 38 per cent. This places the country among those with the lowest rates of such practices in the region.

Ospanova outlined several child protection initiatives Kazakhstan has implemented in recent years, including:

The formal inclusion of “bullying” in the legal framework and the introduction of administrative penalties;

The nationwide launch of the DosbolLIKE anti-bullying program in all schools and colleges, which has already led to a steady reduction in bullying incidents;

The establishment of personal safety classes and the provision of psychological and pedagogical support in all educational institutions;

The operation of the "111" helpline, featuring QR-code-enabled anonymous reporting tools for children in distress;

Regional Family Support Centers and mobile teams dedicated to assisting families in vulnerable situations.

These initiatives are coordinated through SAFE, an integrated digital platform that centralizes child protection programs, legal frameworks, and data in one interactive hub.

The Bucharest conference also included updates from other participating countries, with UNICEF highlighting a new nationwide donation campaign in Kyrgyzstan to support vulnerable children.

Kazakhstan's presentation underscored its commitment to child rights, safety, and well-being, while reinforcing its role as a regional leader in social reform and youth protection.