Representatives of Central Asian Ombudsmen Discuss Child Rights Protection in Kazakhstan

A comprehensive support system for children with developmental disorders operates in Beijing. This system covers the full spectrum of a child's needs—from before birth and early diagnosis to rehabilitation, financial assistance, and provision of inclusive education.

A correspondent from Podrobno.uz received detailed information about the mechanisms of this system during the World Summit on 'Investing in Child Well-being,' held in Samarkand. The speaker at the summit was Li Yan, Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Federation of Disabled Persons of the PRC.

From Examinations to Early Diagnosis

Li Yan emphasized that prevention and rehabilitation in Beijing are viewed as integral parts of a unified approach to assisting a child throughout their life. This system includes measures conducted even before birth, as well as newborn examinations and screening of preschool children. If potential deviations are identified, the child is referred for in-depth diagnosis.

Prenatal screening is carried out in the city, and newborns receive free testing for twelve types of congenital metabolic disorders. According to data presented by Li Yan, coverage of prenatal screening reaches 98.24%, and genetic screening for hereditary metabolic diseases, hearing problems, and deafness covers over 99.6%.

For children aged from birth to six years, screening is organized across five main areas: vision assessment, hearing assessment, motor skills, level of intellectual development, and detection of autism signs. Li Yan also reported that 99.39% of children under seven years old utilize medical services.

Timely detection of disorders allows the child to be promptly directed for additional examination and to determine the specific type of medical care or rehabilitation required.

Rehabilitation and Financial Support

A dedicated block of the system is devoted to providing assistance to children who have already been diagnosed with a disability. According to Li Yan, the age limit for children to receive rehabilitative support in Beijing has been extended to 17 years inclusive. Children with disabilities are entitled to annual financial assistance of up to 36,000 yuan for rehabilitation purposes.

Furthermore, various types of subsidies are provided, including support for living and care, as well as basic social assistance for families that meet established criteria. City authorities are actively working to expand the network of institutions providing medical and rehabilitative care; according to Li Yan, 207 such centers operate in Beijing.

Another important aspect is ensuring children have access to technical rehabilitation aids. Li Yan noted that the city has a complete subsidy system for essential assistive devices for children with disabilities until they reach the age of 17. Among advanced technologies, he highlighted cochlear implants and bionic eyes. The installation of bilateral cochlear implants for children under seven years old is fully funded.

Support Extends Beyond Medicine

The support system in Beijing goes beyond just medical care and rehabilitation, as the infrastructure for special and inclusive education is actively developing. Li Yan stated that a multi-level resource support network has been created for this purpose, covering city, district, educational circuit, and school levels.

Authorities also assist in educating children with disabilities in regular educational institutions and implement a specialized support program for children with autism. Thus, the entire assistance system in Beijing covers the full cycle: from preventive measures and early problem detection to rehabilitation, provision of technical aids, and ensuring access to education.

Speaking in Samarkand, Li Yan also expressed interest in exchanging experiences with other countries in the fields of early screening, disability prevention, and organization of rehabilitation services. It should be noted that the World Bank had previously announced plans for a $100 million program to reform primary healthcare in the Samarkand region, aimed at improving conditions in family clinics, enhancing medical staff qualifications, and digitizing healthcare.

The possibility of establishing prevention inspectors in private educational institutions in Uzbekistan is being considered. The main goal of these specialists' work is to prevent various offenses, combat bullying, drug use, as well as counter extremist ideas and provide support to children from difficult families.

A draft resolution on the matter has been published for public discussion and will be reviewed until November 3rd. According to the submitted document, private educational institutions will have the opportunity to independently introduce new positions using their own financial resources.

It is planned that senior prevention inspectors and specialists in women's issues will be appointed in higher education institutions, while schools and colleges will have positions for psychologist inspectors dealing with minors' affairs.

The appointment process will be carried out by signing an agreement between the educational institution and the local unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After signing this agreement, the Minister of Internal Affairs will issue a corresponding order, and territorial bodies will ensure the staffing of the position within one month.

Key tasks and interaction

The key mission of these employees is to prevent acts of violence, offenses, bullying, drug use, and the spread of extremist views. They will interact with the administration of educational institutions, teachers, psychologists, parents, and mahalla representatives.

Special attention will be paid to students who regularly miss classes, exhibit aggressive behavior, or are influenced by destructive ideas. In schools, preventive events named "Davomat," "Ukuvchi," "Usmir," and "Tungi tekshiruv" are planned, which aim to monitor attendance, detect absent students, and identify minors staying overnight in facilities without adult supervision.

Inspectors will also cooperate with psychologists, organize conversations and training sessions, contributing to improving relationships among students. They must help identify children experiencing stress or depression to prevent suicides. If cases of violence are discovered, inspectors are obliged to report it immediately and ensure the child's protection.

Measures in higher education

In the field of higher education, the project provides for strengthening legal enlightenment, as well as developing sports infrastructure, clubs, and cultural programs. Annually, from September 10th to October 10th, a 'Student Safety Month' will be held. During this event, attendance will be checked, access for unauthorized persons to buildings and dormitories will be restricted, and students needing support will be identified.

In addition, campaigns named "Tig" and "Oriat" will be implemented in universities to ensure safety, prevent the introduction of prohibited items and substances, and combat crimes against life and health. Final regulations will be approved after the completion of the public discussion period.

It should be noted that a proposal was previously put forward in Uzbekistan to create an honorary title for prevention officers to recognize their significant contribution to maintaining public safety.