A recent UNICEF report reveals that approximately 60,000 children are currently in residential care across Central Asia
Nearly 60,000 children aged 0-17 years across five countries in Central Asia live in residential care, according to a new policy brief published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Aug. 15.
Despite the widely recognized harm caused by family separation and child institutionalization, Central Asia has an estimated 203 children per 100,000 living in residential care—nearly double the global average of 105 per 100,000.
“The rate of children in residential care can reflect the strength of a country’s child protection system, with a higher rate signaling a system that is failing to keep families together,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.(Source:astanatimes)
The policy brief highlights a concerning link between children's disabilities and their likelihood of being in residential care. Between 2015 and 2021, the share of children with disabilities in such care increased in all Central Asian countries except Kazakhstan. In 2021, children with disabilities made up 24% of those in residential care in Kazakhstan, rising to 87% in Turkmenistan, reflecting deep-rooted social norms and a lack of community-based services.
UNICEF has outlined policy recommendations aimed at closing large-scale institutions by 2030 and reintegrating children into families. These include childcare reforms to keep children with their families, investments in family support services, strengthening support for extended families, and protecting children in alternative care from violence and neglect.
