Children in the digital world: Kazakhstan strengthens protection

Astana, 24 February 2025 – Kazakhstan has launched a two-year program, Protecting Children from Online Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation, with support from the Safe Online global fund. At a roundtable in the capital, government agencies, international organizations, and leading digital safety experts gathered to discuss the initiative. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Committee for Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the Committee for Child Rights Protection of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan co-organized the event.

Key outcomes of the meeting:

• Kazakhstan is taking active steps to strengthen laws and education to protect children in the digital space.
• Experts presented international best practices for ensuring children's online safety.
• Participants discussed current and new initiatives to combat cyberbullying and online exploitation.
• Government agencies, IT companies, and civil society organizations are strengthening collaboration to prevent digital threats.
• Stakeholders formed a Steering Committee to provide strategic recommendations for the program’s implementation.

Real challenges and solutions

Children in Kazakhstan face increasing online threats, according to Aslan Uskembayev, Deputy Head of the Department for Combating Cybercrime at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. "We must not only respond to these crimes but also prevent them," he emphasized.

Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling online violence. "To create a safe digital environment for children, we must empower both them and their parents with necessary skills and knowledge in digital literacy," he said.

Nasymzhan Zhambekovna Ospanova, Chair of the Committee for Child Rights Protection at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the urgency of strengthening online child protection. "In addition to current measures, we need to develop laws that safeguard children on the internet and support initiatives that create safe online spaces," she stated.

The latest data underscores the urgency of these efforts. According to UNICEF’s Kazakhstan Kids Online study (2023), 15% of children in Kazakhstan encounter unwanted content online every day, while 21% have experienced cyberbullying. Additionally, 10% have added strangers as friends, increasing their risk of online exploitation.

Program objectives

At the roundtable, participants outlined the main goals of the Protecting Children from Online Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation program:

• Strengthening national laws and preventive systems to address online threats, with a focus on online sexual violence.
• Enhancing law enforcement’s ability to investigate online sexual crimes and expanding the role of the IT industry in child protection.
• Educating children, parents, and teachers on cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Improving services for children affected by online violence and digital exploitation.

Experts agreed that protecting children online requires close cooperation between the government, private sector, and civil society. Business representatives expressed their commitment to supporting initiatives that promote a safe digital environment.

At the conclusion of the roundtable, stakeholders formed a Steering Committee, led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Committee for Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the Committee for Child Rights Protection at the Ministry of Education. The Committee brings together government officials, international organizations, academic institutions, and IT industry representatives to develop and implement effective strategies for child protection in the digital world.