The role of forensic expertise in the investigation of crimes committed against children

The National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Representative Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Republic of Kazakhstan, is conducting research on the functional analysis of the system of protection of children from violence in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main purpose of the functional analysis is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing child protection system in order to develop recommendations for the optimal distribution of roles and functions between departments and the construction of an integrated child protection system. As part of the functional analysis, on August 17 this year, a group of forensic medical experts and psychiatrists from Nur-Sultan and Shymkent, as well as in Almaty, East Kazakhstan and Mangistau regions, took part in an interview to discuss the role of forensic examination in cases of violence, including sexual violence against children. During the interview, the procedure for assigning expert examinations, interaction with law enforcement agencies, scientific and methodological, material and technical and personnel equipment of forensic examination Institutes were noted. In 2020, the Center’s experts conducted 700 examinations to determine sexual conditions (crimes) committed against children (from 0 to 17 years old).