Family as the foundation of society: Insights from Kazakhstan and Russia on strengthening values.

The event was attended by parliamentarians, government and public figures, and experts from both countries, as reported by DKnews.kz.

Opening the meeting, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, Dauren Abaev, reminded everyone that the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is placing significant emphasis on strengthening the institution of family, ensuring women's rights, and safeguarding children's safety within the framework of political reforms and legislative amendments. He noted that this roundtable on family policy is the first joint Kazakhstan-Russia event on this topic in recent years.

“For both Kazakhstan and Russia, the family is one of the fundamental national values that cement society. We have much to share and learn from each other,” Dauren Abaev stated.

The Chair of the State Duma Committee on Family Protection, Fatherhood, Motherhood, and Childhood, Nina Ostanina, agreed that similar events are regularly held with colleagues from African, Southeast Asian, and Latin American countries, but this is the first time this topic is being discussed with neighboring states. She further shared experiences from legislative work in the field of family and demographic policy in Russia. The parliamentarian admitted that Russia lacks the Kazakh provision in the Family Code regarding the necessity of protecting, preserving, strengthening, and promoting traditional family values, which are based on reinforcing the institution of marriage and family, fatherhood, motherhood, and childhood.

On his part, his colleague, Mazhilis Deputy Nikita Shatalov, pointed out that considering the large youth demographic in the republic (out of 20 million Kazakhs, 7 million are under 18, with a median age of 32), specific steps are being taken to develop and preserve traditional family values, as well as to support and ensure the safety of children. According to him, family support centers operate in every district, targeted assistance is provided in difficult life situations, programs for helping minors are implemented, and penalties for crimes against families and children have been tightened.

The topic was continued by the Human Rights Commissioner in Kazakhstan, Artur Lastayev. He mentioned that an important step in supporting families and combating violence was the establishment of crisis centers: there are currently over 50 in the country, and more than 4,000 people used their services last year. As a result of amendments to legislation ensuring women's rights and children's safety, the main innovation in preventing domestic violence has been the transition from a declarative to a proactive registration process for violations.

The Deputy Head of the Working Apparatus of the Human Rights Commissioner in Russia, Taras Fedotov, spoke about the main areas of work in family and demographic policy in Russia. Last year, a Plan of Activities was approved for implementing the National Strategy for Action in the Interests of Women until 2030, a unified monthly allowance related to childbirth and child-rearing was introduced, orphans were granted access to housing certificates, and federal social allowances were indexed.

The Special Representative of the General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan in Russia, Kanat Amrin, shared law enforcement practices in preventing and combating domestic and household violence. In particular, a Digital Family Map is being implemented, which allows for the creation of a social portrait through the integration of various information systems. These measures enable government bodies to timely identify issues and carry out preventive work.

According to the Deputy Chair of the Council under the President of Russia for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Irina Kirkora, today our countries share an understanding that family is primarily about communication and mutual support.

“The adage ‘My home is my fortress’ is a fundamental element of life for every individual. No matter how much attempts are made at the global level to undermine this system and showcase different trends and practices, it finds no support in our lives. Love and respect for one another is the foundation of interaction not only within families but also between states,” Irina Kirkora emphasized.

The Director of the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Research and member of the National Council of Public Trust under the President of Kazakhstan, Talgat Kaliev, discussed key trends and challenges facing the institution of family today. Among them are the diminishing role of marriage in life priorities, the rising age for marriage and the birth of the first child, the desire of young people to separate from their parents quickly, the ability to independently provide for their lives regardless of a partner of the opposite sex, and the enormous influence of social media on long-standing family traditions. For example, the successful marriage is now often viewed from the perspective of material well-being rather than relational harmony.

In this regard, the importance, feasibility, and urgent necessity of preserving the institution of family was emphasized by psychologist and psychoanalyst Larisa Bedova, a member of the Russian Psychotherapeutic League and an expert on women's, family, child, and adolescent psychology. In her opinion, given the high level of aggression and both physical and psychological violence, the institution of family is in danger.

At the same time, the scientific director of the Analytical Research Center "Eurasian Monitoring," Taisiya Marmontova, called for maintaining optimism. For instance, she happily noted that Kazakhstan and Russia still uphold the wonderful tradition of celebrating holidays around a common family table.

Summarizing the roundtable, participants acknowledged the commonality, significance, and relevance of the discussed issues for both countries. It was proposed to continue holding similar events, exchanging experiences, combining efforts, and jointly seeking new meanings. As noted, cooperation within a unified information and cultural space, along with shared spiritual values and common moral and ethical guidelines, could greatly aid this endeavor.