Kyrgyzstan to strengthen co-op with int’l partners in protection of children's rights

Bishkek, July 4, 2023. / Kabar /. Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan Zhamilya Dzhamanbaeva and UNICEF Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic Christine Jaulmes intend to strengthen cooperation in the protection of children's rights in Kyrgyzstan.

As it became known during the parties' meeting, existing problems in orphanages, as well as the rights of children repatriated from Iraq and living in families with close relatives were discussed.

The ombudsman emphasized that violence agains children is one of the global problems of modern society.

"Systemic changes are necessary to prevent violence against children. It is also important to strengthen cooperation between state agencies on the protection of the rights of minors.

In 2022, the Department for the Protection of the Rights of Children, Women and Families, with the assistance of UNICEF in the Kyrgyz Republic conducted two monitoring visits to the country:

Monitoring of the rights of children repatriated from the Republic of Iraq and living in families with close relatives (79 children), and monitoring of residential institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic. As a result, a number of problems were identified," Dzhamanbaeva said.

Christine Jaulmes noted the importance of strengthening cooperation between state bodies and the Ombudsman Institute to protect the rights of children in residential institutions.

"We are receiving alarming signals about the problems of children in residential institutions. In particular, we have been told that there is a lack of food in such institutions in Jalal-Abad. In this regard, we consider it important to continue monitoring in such institutions. Also taking into account other experiences to study the problems of repatriated children from war zones, it is necessary to continue monitoring of children repatriated from Iraq to Kyrgyzstan", she added.