KAZAKHSTANKAZAKHSTANA UNICEF report published in 2010 states that 54% of children aged 2-14 experienced violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) in 2005-2006. A quarter experienced physical punishment, while a much smaller percentage (7%) of mothers and caregivers thought that physical punishment was necessary in childrearing, and non-violent discipline was also widely used: experienced by 77% of children. One per cent of children experienced severe physical punishment (being hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or being hit over and over with an implement) and half experienced psychological aggression (being shouted at, yelled at, screamed at or insulted). Boys were slightly more likely than girls to experience violent discipline: 56% compared to 51%. Children aged 5-9 were more likely to experience violent discipline than those of other ages: 57% of children aged 5-9 compared to 47% of children aged 2-4 and 55% of children aged 10-14. Children living in households with adults with a higher average level of education were less likely to experience violent discipline than those living with less educated adults. No significant differences in children’s experience of violent discipline were found according to household size or engagement in child labour.
(UNICEF, 2010, Child Disciplinary Practices at Home: Evidence from a Range of Low- and Middle-Income Countries, NY: UNICEF)
According to statistics from UNICEF on violence in the family, in 2005-6 ten per cent of girls and women aged 15-49 thought that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.
(UNICEF, 2009, Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF)
A 2002 study in Kazakhstan found that 28% of children in children’s homes were regularly subjected to violence, while 63% experienced violence “sometimes”. Punishments included beatings, humiliation and forcing children to do strenuous work.
(Alternative Report of Non-Governmental Organisations of Kazakhstan, 2002, www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/crc.33/kazakhstan_ngo_report.pdf)
A nationwide survey on violence against children was conducted in 2002 by the Association of Social Scientists and Politologists with the support of UNICEF, using anonymous questionnaires for parents and for children and in-depth interviews with education, health and childcare specialists. 1,100 children aged 7-18 years living with their parents, in institutions and on the street, 1,100 parents of children aged 5-18 years, and 220 specialists were included in the research. Specialists estimated that 60-80% of children are subject to violence by parents, adults and children, and the number is increasing. Health workers reported an increase in the number of children coming to their facilities as a result of beating and torture in families. Interviews showed that most often the victims were from "troublesome" families (49.5%) and families with a low level of education (28.7%), and children of all ages were susceptible. "Educational" measures reported by parents on their children included explanations (32%), reprimands (29.1%), moral punishment or bans (17.6%), scolding (16.4%) and physical punishment (2.3%). Scolding and physical punishment were most common for low-income families. One third (33%) of children reported encountering violence - on average 3.3% constantly suffer from brutal treatment, 16.3% frequently, 66.6% sometimes and 13.8% never. The perpetrators of the violence were reported as older children (44.5%), parents/relatives (23.9%), policemen (9.6%), teachers and educators (9.6%), youth groups (8.2%), and hooligans and bandits (4.2%). In all settings (at home, with relatives, boarding school, orphanage, remand centre, and special school), violence was most commonly carried out by older children followed by parents and relatives.
(Association of Social Scientists and Politologists/UNICEF, 2002, Violence against Children in the Republic of Kazakhstan February - March 2002, Almaty: ASSAP/UNICEF)