KYRGYZSTANKYRGYZSTANA 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. More than a third experienced physical punishment, while a 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 89% of children. Three 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 43% experienced psychological aggression (being shouted at, yelled at, screamed at or insulted). Boys were more likely than girls to experience violent discipline: 59% compared to 49%. No significant differences in children’s experience of violent discipline were found according to age, household size, level of education of adults in the household or engagement in child labour.
(UNICEF, 2010, Child Disciplinary Practices at Home: Evidence from a Range of Low- and Middle-Income Countries, NY: UNICEF)
A large-scale national study which involved over 2,000 children found that nearly one quarter (24%) of children said they had been hit, kicked, beaten or physically hurt in another way by an adult in their family. Sixteen per cent had experienced this in the past month. Eleven per cent had been hit or attacked with a weapon or other object by a family member. Of the quarter of children who had been physically hurt by an adult in their family, 31% could still feel the pain next day or had a bruise, cut that bled or other injury such as a broken bone. Twelve per cent of these children had required medical attention. Forty-four per cent of children said that adults in their family had called them names or said things that hurt their feelings; 33% had experienced this in the past month. Fifteen per cent of children had been threatened with violence with a weapon; 10% in the past month. Surveys with 155 parents also revealed very high rates of use of physical and verbal punishment. While positive discipline was widely used (93% of parents had used positive discipline methods such as explaining why a behaviour was wrong or taking away a child’s privileges; 87% in the past month), the majority of parents who used positive discipline also used physical, verbal and psychological violence as a punishment. Sixty-eight per cent of parents had used some kind of corporal punishment; 57% in the past month. Fifty-eight per cent had slapped their child on the back, buttocks, leg or arm; 41% had shaken their child; 32% had hit their child with a hard object (including belts, hairbrushes and sticks); 25% had slapped their child on the face or head. Eleven per cent had hit their child over and over as hard as they could; 4.5% had thrown their child or knocked them down. Forty-seven per cent of parents had sworn at or cursed their child or called them names; 41% in the past month. Thirty-four per cent had threatened to hit, beat or kick their child; 27% in the past month. The study recommends prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings, including the home.
(Haarr, R. et al, 2009, Child Abuse and Neglect in Families in the Kyrgyz Republic: a National Population-Based Study, UNIECF)
According to statistics from UNICEF on violence in the family, in 2005-2006 thirty-eight 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)