Kazakhstan Approves Controversial Law to Protect Children

Kazakhstan’s Parliament Bans LGBT Propaganda, Citing Child Protection

Kazakhstan's Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, has approved an amendment banning LGBT propaganda. The move has sparked international criticism, but Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, and Security, Nikita Shatalov, has defended the law.

Shatalov, a member of the Mazhilis, argued that the amendment is necessary to protect Kazakhstani children and adolescents from harmful content that could negatively impact their understanding of family and marriage. He dismissed claims of human rights violations, stating that Kazakhstan consistently fulfills its human rights commitments.

The amendment, incorporated into a draft law on archival affairs, was defended by Shatalov, who pointed out that no one has the right to dictate laws to national parliaments. He also dismissed claims that the amendment violates international obligations, citing Article 17 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which obliges states to protect children from harmful information.

Shatalov maintained that the amendment is designed to limit the imposition of lifestyles alien to Kazakhstani society, not to ban the existence of people with different identities. He asserted that passing this law is in full compliance with international obligations.

The amendment, which has been criticized by international human rights organizations, has been adopted by lawmakers in the Mazhilis. Shatalov, a prominent defender of the law, maintains that it is a necessary measure to protect Kazakhstani children and adolescents, while also complying with international obligations.