Regional Child-Rights Forum Targets Digital Safety
Commissioners from several Central Asian countries are sharing national plans for kids' online safety and mental well-being.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Child Care
Kyrgyzstan's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Asel Chynbaeva, took part in the 2nd International Forum of Commissioners for Children's Rights from Central Asian Countries held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The forum's theme was "Children's Voices: National Strategies and a Safe Digital Environment."
Why it matters
The forum brought together child-rights commissioners from several Central Asian countries and beyond to compare national strategies for protecting children, including their safety online. For families, it signals a regional push to address digital safety and psychological well-being for kids alongside traditional child-welfare concerns.
The forum was the second edition of this series and featured panel sessions on an inclusive environment, equal opportunities for all children, digital protection, and psychological well-being. Its next edition is scheduled for Kyrgyzstan in 2027.
The players
Asel Chynbaeva
Commissioner for Children's Rights of Kyrgyzstan, who participated in the forum and represents the national child-rights ombudsman office.
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
A United Nations post focused on preventing and responding to violence against children worldwide.
The details
Commissioners presented their countries' national strategies for ensuring children's rights during a plenary session. The forum then continued with two panel sessions, one on building an inclusive environment and equal opportunities, and one on protecting children in the digital environment and promoting psychological well-being. Representatives from international organizations, including the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence against Children, joined government officials and parliamentarians from the region.
Timeline
The article reporting on the Astana forum was published on November 2, 2026.
The 3rd International Forum will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2027.
The Home Front
The forum's focus on digital environments reflects a wider regional concern about children's online safety as internet access expands across Central Asia. National child-rights commissioners are increasingly treating screen use and mental health alongside physical welfare in their household-level guidance.
If you parent children who use phones, tablets, or games, consider reviewing the parental-control and privacy settings on their devices this month. Look for your country's child-rights ombudsman or commissioner office to learn what protections and reporting channels exist for families in your area.
The takeaway
Child-rights commissioners across Central Asia are treating digital safety and children's psychological well-being as core parts of national child-protection policy. Keep a short list of your local child-rights office contacts and revisit your children's device settings when new apps or platforms are added.
What happens next
The 3rd International Forum of Commissioners for Children's Rights from Central Asian Countries will take place in Kyrgyzstan in 2027.
Further reading
For more on the issues behind this meeting, explore our Child Care coverage.
