(MENAFN) Kazakhstan’s lower parliamentary chamber has approved a bill aimed at prohibiting “pedophilia and LGBT propaganda” in both media outlets and online platforms, citing the need to shield children from “harmful information.”

The legislation, passed on Wednesday, introduces amendments to existing laws concerning child rights, media, advertising, culture, and education.

A 2024 petition advocating for a prohibition on promoting LGBTQ issues had attracted more than 50,000 signatures.

The bill must still receive approval from the Senate before it can be enacted into law by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has consistently emphasized the importance of traditional values.

The parliamentary committee on socio-cultural development stated that the proposal intends “to protect children from information harmful to their health and development” by limiting the public distribution of content that promotes pedophilia or “non-traditional sexual orientation.”

Lawmaker Elnur Beisenbayev, who introduced the bill, argued that it reflects mounting public concern about online content.

“Children and adolescents are exposed daily to information that can distort their understanding of family, morality and the future,” he remarked. Beisenbayev further stressed that shielding them from illegal material is crucial for both safety and mental well-being.

However, the bill has drawn criticism from human rights and equality organizations.

The Belgium-based International Partnership warned that it would “blatantly violate” Kazakhstan’s international obligations.

In response, Beisenbayev insisted that the law “does not restrict the personal rights of LGBTQ individuals” but establishes “boundaries by banning pedophilia and LGBTQ propaganda,” which he claims is “in line with international practice.”

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