The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has signed a law introducing amendments to several legislative acts in Kazakhstan aimed at enhancing the rights of women and the safety of children. The law's objective is to improve the legal, economic, social, institutional, and organizational foundations of the state policy concerning the rights of women and the safety of children.
The new provisions include stricter penalties for any acts of violence against women and children, as well as measures to strengthen the institution of the family and the safety of minors. The amendments criminalize intentional infliction of light harm and battery, while also increasing penalties for causing moderate and severe harm.
Furthermore, the law introduces new principles of family law focused on strengthening the institution of marriage and family, parenthood, maternity, and childhood. It emphasizes the importance of moral and spiritual upbringing of children in line with respect for universal, national, traditional, cultural, and family values.
Additionally, the legislation establishes the legal framework for the functioning of a contact center for family issues, protection of women's and children's rights. The center, operated by a designated legal entity, will require government agencies to not only collaborate on family matters but also provide information on actions taken following citizens' complaints.
The amendments also address the establishment and operation of family support centers to provide specialized social services to victims of domestic violence. They introduce criminal liability for inducing or assisting suicide, as well as for sexual harassment of individuals under 16 years old. Penalties for kidnapping and unlawful deprivation of liberty of minors have been significantly toughened.
For the first time, administrative responsibility for bullying (including cyberbullying) of minors has been introduced. Educational institutions are now obligated to promptly report unlawful acts involving minors to law enforcement agencies. To ensure children's safety, a ban on forcibly removing children under 16 from public transport if they cannot pay for the fare has been implemented.
Among other changes are the expansion of the principles of family law to promote traditional family values and the enhancement of the competence of local representative and executive bodies in strengthening the institution of marriage and family, providing socio-economic support, and offering comprehensive assistance to individuals (families) in difficult life situations.
Overall, the law introduces amendments to 15 legislative acts, including seven codes and eight laws. The President also signed a law amending the Administrative Offenses Code of Kazakhstan regarding the rights of women and the safety of children.
The directives to toughen penalties for violence against women and children were announced by the President in addresses to the people of Kazakhstan on March 16, 2022, and September 1, 2023. The amendments underwent extensive public discussion, with representatives of non-governmental organizations, the National Council under the President, the National Commission on Women's and Family-Demographic Policy under the President, the National Human Rights Center, and the Commissioner for Children's Rights participating in parliamentary sessions.
