Kazakhstan Remains Dedicated to Safeguarding Children’s Rights and Well-being
Kazakhstan Commits to Protecting Children’s Rights, a Top Priority for the Government
On February 16, 1994, Kazakhstan signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), demonstrating its commitment to ensuring equal rights for every child. This voluntary agreement led to global commitments to safeguard and promote children’s rights in the country. The convention became a key tool for building a child-friendly society in Kazakhstan and established the basis for cooperation between the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the government, reported UNICEF’s press service.
The CRC is a pivotal international document that comprehensively defines children’s rights and is the most widely accepted document in global history. Its main principles include the equal rights of all children to life, development, protection, and freedom from discrimination.
Over the past three decades, Kazakhstan has made significant progress in protecting and promoting the well-being of children. The country has reduced the mortality rate of children under five years old by five times and the neonatal mortality rate by three and a half times. In 2016, Kazakhstan established the Commissioner for Children’s Rights institution and appointed commissioners in each region in 2022, enabling assistance in case of rights violations.
In 2023, Kazakhstan adopted and updated the Social Code, extending government benefits and social payments for childcare up to one and a half years. This year, it marked the launch of the National Fund for Children project, allocating 50% of the National Fund’s investment income to all children under 18, providing support for education or housing upon adulthood. Last year, the country ratified the third Optional Protocol to the CRC, setting a mechanism for reviewing individual complaints from children or their parents in case of rights violations.
Laetitia Bazzi-Veil, Acting UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, emphasized emerging challenges and priorities, such as developing and implementing a unified national strategy for protecting children’s rights. This strategy aims to unite partners, establish goals for implementing children’s rights, and create a comprehensive monitoring system to accelerate progress in safeguarding children’s rights in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nasymzhan Ospanova, Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of Children’s Rights of the Ministry of Education, explained that the committee is responsible for implementing the provisions of numerous international conventions on children’s rights. It submits periodic reports on the situation of children in the country to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and demonstrates compliance with the convention’s provisions, serving as the basis for assessing progress.
Ospanova further highlighted the implementation of the Child Well-being Index, a national monitoring system allowing for the selection and comparison of indicators across Kazakhstan’s regions and with international indices of children’s well-being.
Kazakhstan has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to protecting and promoting the well-being of every child in the country. The government, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, continues to make strides in ensuring that children enjoy their rights and live in a safe and supportive environment.
