NEW YORK: UNICEF has raised alarms over the situation of nearly 60,000 children in Central Asia who are growing up in residential care facilities, separated from their families. According to a recent report, an estimated 203 children per 100,000 in Central Asia live in residential care — a figure nearly double the global average of 105 per 100,000.
The report highlights a troubling increase in the number of children with disabilities in residential care across all Central Asian countries except Kazakhstan between 2015 and 2021. This trend reflects deep-seated social norms and a lack of community-based services for children with disabilities.
UNICEF’s statement emphasized the detrimental impact of institutionalization on children, who are often deprived of the social, emotional, and intellectual stimulation critical for healthy brain development. Isolated from mainstream society, these children are particularly vulnerable to violence, neglect, and abuse.
To address this crisis, UNICEF has proposed seven key policy recommendations to address this issue. Implement effective childcare reforms to keep children with their families when possible, including plans to close large-scale institutions and develop comprehensive child and family support services.
Invest in a range of child and family support services, including statutory family support, and strengthen the social service workforce for early identification and intervention when children are at risk of separation.
Secure family-based alternative care, providing stronger support for extended family members caring for children and strategies to keep siblings together where possible. Protect children in alternative care from violence, neglect, and abuse through robust safeguarding policies and practices. Invest in improved data collection on children at risk of family separation, those in alternative care, and those who have left care.
Raise public awareness of the benefits of family unity and the urgent need to prioritize family-based care. Ensure children have a voice in decisions affecting them and are consulted in the development of new policies and practices to meet their needs and rights. UNICEF’s recommendations aim to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for children in Central Asia, prioritizing family-based care and the protection of children’s rights.
