Almaty's Electricity Costs: Breakdown by Consumer and Rates Paid
In a recent court hearing, a caregiver was found guilty of intentionally causing harm to a minor in her care. The incident occurred on March 14, 2025, at a Kostanay social service center for children with special needs.
The defendant, who was a caregiver at the facility, was charged with neglect of duty in caring for a minor and intentionally causing minor harm to a minor in a helpless state. The victim, a 16-year-old girl, was left with burn marks from an iron as a result of the caregiver's actions.
The case was heard in the Kostanay region's specialized inter-district court for juvenile cases. The caregiver admitted her guilt and expressed remorse for her actions. As a consequence, she was sentenced to six months of restricted freedom.
It is important to note that Kazakhstan, as of 2025, lacks a specific legal ban or well-defined penalty structure for intentional harm or corporal punishment of minors. While physical and psychological punishment of children is common, with UNICEF reporting in 2023 that 53% of children experienced such punishments, Kazakhstan has yet to establish a legal ban on corporal punishment at home or clearer statutory protections explicitly criminalizing intentional harm to minors.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has urged Kazakhstan to legally prohibit corporal punishment and establish protections against abuse, but as of mid-2025, this legal reform has not been implemented. There is no detailed information readily available specifying exact criminal laws or penalties related to intentionally causing harm to a minor, such as assault or abuse statutes with regard to minors.
However, general principles of criminal law and human rights standards would apply to cases of serious injury or abuse of minors, with Kazakhstan being urged by UN bodies to improve prosecution and prevention measures. The legal system in Kazakhstan faces international scrutiny regarding human rights protections, including those involving vulnerable groups such as minors and migrants, but detailed statutory penalty frameworks for harm to minors are not described in the search results.
This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for clearer laws and protections to address the issue of intentional harm to minors in Kazakhstan. The sentence handed down to the caregiver is a step towards holding those responsible accountable, but it underscores the need for a comprehensive legal framework to protect minors from harm.
In a related development, it is worth mentioning that previously, a caregiver in Shymkent received 80 hours of community service for beating children. This incident further highlights the need for stricter laws and harsher penalties to deter such behaviour and ensure the safety and well-being of minors in Kazakhstan.
- Despite Kazakhstan's legal system not having a specific ban or a well-defined penalty structure for intentional harm to minors, the case of the caregiver who was sentenced for causing harm to a minor serves as a contribution towards establishing clearer laws and protections for the safety and well-being of minors in Kazakhstan.
- Given the reported high incidence of physical and psychological punishment of children in Kazakhstan and the absence of a legal ban on corporal punishment, it is crucial for the country to reconsider its stance on intentional harm to minors, particularly in light of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's earlier urgings to establish protections against abuse.
- As the general news and health-and-wellness sectors continue to emphasize the importance of mental health, it would be beneficial for Kazakhstan to extend these concerns to the protection of minors, particularly in the context of intentional harm, and enforce stricter laws and harsher penalties to deter such behavior and ensure the well-being of minors.
