Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a law that prohibits the media from publishing information that is harmful to the health or development of children, Turanews.kz reports.
The law, which was adopted by the Kyrgyz parliament in July 2023, defines “harmful information” as information that promotes violence, hatred, discrimination, or child abuse; or that encourages children to engage in harmful behaviors, such as suicide, drug use, or prostitution.
The law also prohibits the media from publishing information about the private lives of children without their consent.
In a statement, President Japarov said that the law was necessary to create a safe information environment for children. “We must protect our children from harmful information that can damage their health and development,” he said.
The law is the latest in a series of measures that the Kyrgyz government has taken to protect children. In recent years, the government has also banned the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors, and has introduced stricter penalties for child abuse.
