Individuals who exert physical or psychological violence against children will face new and stringent fines under proposed legislative changes in Azerbaijan.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that according to a new article proposed to the Code of Administrative Offenses, those who use violence against a child for the purpose of upbringing will be held accountable before the law. The draft law was brought up for discussion during a joint meeting of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) committees on Legal Policy and State Building, as well as Human Rights.
According to the document, parents (or their legal guardians) and employees of educational, medical, social service, sports, cultural, recreational, and penitentiary institutions who exercise supervision over children will be fined 200 manats for the application of corporal punishment. This means that the infliction of physical or psychological violence against a child as a disciplinary measure or for the purpose of upbringing will be unequivocally punished.
Furthermore, the failure to report signs of violence discovered in a child to the relevant authorities will also result in fines. According to the project, parents and relevant institutional employees who do not provide this information to law enforcement agencies or the local commission for the protection of children's rights will bear responsibility. In such cases, individuals concealing the information will be fined from 200 to 300 manats, while officials will face fines ranging from 400 to 600 manats.
The proposal also includes sanctions for failing to prevent continuous pressure and aggressive behavior among children (bullying) within educational, medical, social, sports, and penitentiary institutions. Individuals who fail to prevent such incidents will be fined from 300 to 400 manats, and officials will be fined between 500 and 600 manats.
This legislative initiative aligns with Azerbaijan's ongoing commitment to international child protection standards and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. By strengthening the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Republic of Azerbaijan aims to create a safer environment for the younger generation and ensure that any form of maltreatment is met with legal consequences. These measures are part of a broader state strategy to modernize the social and legal framework governing family and child welfare in the country.
