UNite for a Greener and Safer Tomorrow: UNICEF Joins Forces with Kazakhstan to Tackle Climate Change and Enhance Cyber Security Measures
In a 30-year partnership, Kazakhstan and UNICEF have made significant strides in improving children's lives, reducing child mortality, expanding access to education, social services, and immunization. Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, recently highlighted the country's progress in a conversation available on The Astana Times YouTube channel.
However, Kazakhstan currently faces several interlinked challenges in addressing children's safety and mental health. One such challenge is the declining birth rate, with a sustained fall in fertility rates creating demographic concerns that may affect children’s long-term social support and resources.
Geographically and climatically, rising temperatures and heatwaves in Kazakhstan are causing damage to infrastructure such as roads and buildings, particularly in the southern and northeastern regions. These climate challenges exacerbate risks to children's safety by straining urban infrastructure and public services.
Regarding online safety and cybersecurity, Kazakhstan confronts deficiencies in digital literacy among children and insufficient awareness of online risks among parents. These gaps reduce children's help-seeking behavior when encountering online harm, heightening their vulnerability.
Dr. Sarwar emphasized that the challenges children face today, such as online safety, significantly differ from those of three decades ago. He stressed the importance of deepening a culture of giving in Kazakhstan and engaging corporations and individuals in UNICEF's initiatives for child development.
UNICEF is working with various government ministries, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, and other partners to address these challenges. The organisation is shifting towards long-term, sustainable programs, such as initiatives supporting children with special educational needs.
The 2023 Kazakhstan Kids Online study conducted with the Ministry of Education revealed that 21% of children have experienced cyberbullying, 12% reported seeing explicit content shared among friends, 7% received sexually explicit messages, and 21% did not inform anyone when meeting someone they initially encountered online.
Climate change poses a significant threat to children's safety and mental health in Kazakhstan, with 84% of children exposed to extreme heat, 55% experiencing water shortages, and 73% facing air pollution. Dr. Sarwar highlighted the importance of working with local authorities to address immediate needs, as demonstrated in UNICEF's refugee response in Poland.
Despite these challenges, UNICEF remains optimistic about Kazakhstan's potential to address emerging threats to children's well-being. Addressing these requires integrated policies scaling up climate adaptation, improving digital literacy and parental awareness, and sustaining demographic health through social supports. However, limited funding and evolving risk landscapes continue to impede full progress.
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- In addition to the aforementioned achievements, UNICEF and Kazakhstan are now focusing on the intersection of science, health-and-wellness, and environmental-science, as climate change poses a significant threat to children's safety and mental health.
- Recognizing the importance of technology in children's lives, UNICEF is addressing gaps in cybersecurity and digital literacy, aiming to equip children and parents with the necessary knowledge to navigate the online world safely.
- As Kazakhstan progresses in its development, it is essential to consider the evolving health challenges such as mental health and understand the need for integrated policies to ensure the well-being and long-term success of the nation's children.
