A proposed amendment concerning the protection of children from harmful content was included in the bill discussed today. According to the new rules, the dissemination of information containing the promotion of pedophilia or non-traditional sexual orientation will be prohibited. Deputy Yelnur Beisenbaev explained that the amendment affects changes in nine different laws, including laws on children's rights, advertising, and culture. These will establish a clear definition of the term "promotion of non-traditional orientation," as well as a ban on its dissemination through media and the internet.
“We observe how children and adolescents are daily exposed to information on the internet that can negatively affect their perception of family and morality. Therefore, protecting the younger generation from such content is a matter of their safety and mental health,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Evgeny Kochetov noted that the promotion of LGBT implies creating a positive public opinion about non-traditional orientation.
“When it comes to one preference being better than another, this is already an element of propaganda. Mentioning or informing is not propaganda if it does not involve a positive assessment,” he stated.
Deputy Nikita Shatalov rejected criticism from international human rights organizations that called the new amendment a violation of human rights.
“It is absurd when someone tries to impose their point of view on us through informational pressure. These organizations, while talking about violations of international obligations, themselves violate international practice by trying to exert pressure on us. This is unacceptable,” Shatalov said.
In the last two years, three petitions to ban LGBT propaganda have been initiated in Kazakhstan, gathering more than 50,000 signatures. Initially, it was planned to include the amendment in the bill "On Mass Media," but it was removed by the second reading. Ultimately, the amendment was added to a bill concerning archival affairs, which will be submitted for consideration to the Senate of Kazakhstan.
