Parliament OKs stiffer penalties against irresponsible parents

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Obviously, the first teachers we have in our lives in most cases are our parents.

Parenting involves taking responsibility seriously, taking advantage of every opportunity to enhance children’s learning, and helping children with challenges.

Children absorb life experiences indiscriminately. So, through interactions with their children and the experiences that they provide, parents can guide children’s growth and development.

Unfortunately, some parents forget about their duties and the thinking “there are no bad children, only bad parents” in some cases is proof of that.

Azerbaijan's parliament decided to impose stiffer penalties against irresponsible parents. The country’s Parliament at its plenary session made amendments to the relative legislation.

Henceforth, parents will be fined in between 60 and 100 manats ($57.23 - $95.38) for leaving their children unattended. This fine also relates to those acting as guardians during parents' absence.

Before the amendment the fine stood at 20-40 manats ($19.08 - $ 38.15).

Moreover, amendments also touched parents' irresponsibility leading to underage alcohol consumption, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances consumption, then parents will be fined in between 50-100 manats ($47.69 - $95.38).

For disorderly conduct committed by minors aged 14 to 16, parents or guardians will be fined in between 50 to 100 manats, according to the amendment. Now, the penalty for the same hooliganism stands at 30-40 manats ($28.61- $38.15).

For allowing underage alcohol consumption parents or guardians will pay a fine of 50-100 manats - the fine currently stands at 20-35 manats. ($19.08 - $33.38).

Taliya Ibrahimova, the head of the legal department of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Issues said that the children of irresponsible parents are in a risk group, since usually they become the victims of violence and trafficking.

She said if relevant complaints received, the Committee sends them to the commissions operating in the country’s Executive Powers, where they are considered on a case to case basis.

Ibrahimova also added that such cases generally occur in families where parents are divorced or addicted to alcohol.