Adolescents
A significant proportion of casualties, trauma and deaths among adolescents and young people in the country stem from substance use, particularly alcohol, tobacco and injecting drug use. Up to 75% of youngsters smoke on a regular basis. There are 6,000 officially registered injecting drug users (IDUs), but unofficial estimates suggest that there may be as many as 35,000. Many are thought to be adolescents and young people, with 65% of IDUs under the age of 35. Young people are extremely vulnerable to the risks associated with drug use, including HIV infection, but they lack the knowledge, information and skills to protect themselves. Findings from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, implemented in the Kyrgyz Republic, 2006 found that only 50% of young people had proper knowledge of this issue. Approximately 83% of those registered as HIV-positive report injecting drug use as the cause of infection and there has been a steep rise in the number of HIV/AIDS infections among adolescents. Officially, there were 824 HIV infections in the country by mid 2006, up from 53 in 2000. However, unofficial estimates indicate that as many as 8,000 people are infected. Juvenile delinquency is escalating. Data from the Ministry of the Interior indicate that the number of crimes committed by 14-17 year-olds increased from 1,008 in 2001 to 2,954 in 2004. Juvenile justice has not been reformed to comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards and continues to focus on custodial measures. Juveniles in conflict with the law are too frequently deprived of their liberty.
There is an urgent need for child protection reform to address emerging and pressing social problems. Lack of educational, career and employment opportunities and the absence of positive leisure activities put young people at risk. The number of young people practising risky behaviour, such as drug use and drug dealing, unprotected sex and criminal activities, is growing. The trafficking of young women for commercial sex work overseas remains a serious challenge. Latest information suggests that 4,000 women and girls are trafficked from the country each year.
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