ASTANA – The Children’s Day, marked on June 1, reminds us that a child’s right to safety, dignity, and emotional support should be upheld every day. In Kazakhstan, where concerns over bullying in schools have become increasingly urgent, a wave of new national programs and international partnerships is yielding encouraging results.
Experts, educators, and advocates agree: tackling bullying requires understanding both the wounds of the victims and the pain often hidden behind the aggressor’s behavior.
There are approximately 6.9 million children in Kazakhstan, a country with a population of more than 20 million.
What is bullying?
UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, defines bullying, whether in person or online, as a repeated, intentional act rooted in power imbalance, with severe emotional and psychological consequences.
“Once children enter school, friendships and interactions with peers take on an increasingly important role in their lives. These relationships have the potential to contribute to a child’s sense of well-being and to social competence, but they are also associated with exposure to new forms of victimization,” reads the statement on the official website. Bullying by schoolmates remains the most common among peer violence forms.
In Kazakhstan, at least 16% of students aged 13–15 years reported being bullied on one or more days in the past 30 days as of July 2024, according to the UNICEF, based on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC), Global School-based Student Health Surveys (GSHS) and other national surveys.
A psychological perspective on healing
Psychotherapist and clinical neuropsychologist Valentina Mukhanova-Biryukova agreed that bullying is a widespread problem with serious consequences for victims, aggressors, and bystanders alike.
She encourages parents to be observant of warning signs, such as unexplained bruises, sleep problems, missing items, and to open calm, supportive conversations when something feels wrong.
“Tell the child you are on their side. Reassure them that bullying is never their fault,” she said.
She also suggests age-appropriate methods, such as drawing or role-playing, to help younger children express their emotions. She also added that when the victim is a teenager, the conversation should be led by a family member the teen trusts most. She emphasized the importance of avoiding threats and manipulation and recommended seeking professional help.
When it comes to aggressors, Mukhanova-Biryukova explained that their behavior often stems from a desire for control or a sense of belonging. Underlying causes can include family dysfunction, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, peer pressure, and even the influence of media, where violence is sometimes portrayed as heroic.
“Tell your child that you love them no matter what. If you have hurt them, acknowledge it and apologize,” she said.
She recommends giving children structured responsibility, helping them find non-violent outlets, and teaching them other ways to influence and succeed.
A shared responsibility
Bullying is not a problem to be solved by schools alone. It reflects the emotional climate in homes, classrooms, and communities. Kazakhstan’s growing efforts, from institutional reforms to parenting programs, signal a serious shift in how the nation views child well-being.
As you know, children are the flowers of life,” said Mukhanova-Biryukova. “It is not them that should be raised, but ourselves. And we just need to love them.
Children are not born cruel. They become that way when adults fail to notice their pain. Recognizing every child’s need for love, safety, and connection is the first step toward ending the cycle of bullying and building a more compassionate future.
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Special issue for THE ASTANA TIMES, expert:Valentina Mukhanova-Biryukova. Journalist: Dana Omirgazi.
Photo: Shutterstock