Baku: A new draft law in Azerbaijan seeks to impose fines on individuals and officials who fail to report or prevent signs of violence against children. This legislative move was discussed during a session of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan's National Assembly.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the proposed amendments are outlined in new Articles 189-4 and 189-5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. Article 189-4 stipulates that parents or guardians, along with staff members of educational, medical, social service, sports, cultural, leisure, and penitentiary institutions, are required to report any detected signs of violence against children to relevant law enforcement bodies or local commissions dedicated to children's rights protection. Failure to do so will result in fines ranging from 200 to 300 manats for individuals and 400 to 600 manats for officials.

The proposed Article 189-5 targets individuals and officials who fail to prevent violence, including persistent pressure and aggressive behavior among children within similar institutions. Under this article, individuals could face fines between 300 and 400 manats, while officials might incur penalties from 500 to 600 manats.

Following discussions, the draft law was put to a vote and passed its first reading, marking a significant step in strengthening child protection measures in Azerbaijan.