Child perishes in river drowning incident in Akmola region
Kazakhstan is currently considering a significant shift in its approach to dealing with sexual offenders, particularly those who have committed crimes against minors. The Ministry of Health has proposed amendments to the existing chemical castration policy, with the aim of enhancing the prevention of recidivism.
The amendments, currently under public discussion until mid-August 2025, introduce the application of chemical castration six months before an offender’s scheduled release from prison for individuals aged 18 and above who have been convicted of sexual crimes against minors[1][2][4]. This decision follows a compulsory forensic psychiatric evaluation to assess the offender's risk of reoffending.
However, the proposal for surgical castration remains a contentious issue. Initial drafts of the bill included surgical castration as a punishment for pedophiles, but the government has yet to back this measure due to concerns over human rights violations[5]. Elnur Beisenbayev, a member of Mazhilis, has proposed the introduction of surgical castration for pedophiles, but the details of this procedure are not provided[6].
The new changes to chemical castration are aimed at reducing the reoffending risk immediately post-release[1][2]. The judicial-psychiatric examination is required to determine the presence (absence) of mental disorders and inclinations towards sexual violence[7]. The institution's administration is required to submit materials for this examination no later than 12 months before the sentence expires[8].
The potential impact of these amendments on the overall criminal justice system in Kazakhstan is not discussed. Furthermore, the details of how the increased effectiveness of preventing recidivism will be measured are not provided[9]. The document, available for public discussion until August 18, has been published on the "Open NPA" portal[10].
[1] [Link to source 1] [2] [Link to source 2] [3] [Link to source 3] (Not provided) [4] [Link to source 4] [5] [Link to source 5] [6] [Link to source 6] [7] [Link to source 7] [8] [Link to source 8] [9] [Link to source 9] [10] [Link to source 10]
- The public discussion surrounding the proposed amendments to Kazakhstan's chemical castration policy for sexual offenders, who have committed crimes against minors, also involves discussions on general news and politics, as the amendments are aimed at reducing recidivism and the potential impact on the general criminal justice system.
- The ongoing debate in Kazakhstan's policy-and-legislation forum about the inclusion of surgical castration as a punishment for pedophiles, proposed by Elnur Beisenbayev, highlights the intersection of crime-and-justice and human rights issues in the nation's legal system.
