The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has officially enacted a stringent law significantly increasing criminal liability for all forms of violence against minors. The legislative document was passed by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis in late September and subsequently approved by the Senate in early October, officially entering into force today to overhaul the country's penal landscape regarding child protection.

Among the primary and most severe updates introduced by the legislation is the imposition of up to life imprisonment for individuals convicted of committing sexual violence against children under the age of 14. Furthermore, the statute of limitations for prosecuting crimes involving sexual offenses against individuals under 18 has been completely abolished. The amendments also strictly prohibit the mitigation of sentences for intentional crimes that result in the death of a child, while penalties for street harassment and unwanted advances have been substantially increased.

Commenting on the enactment of the law, Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva allegedly stated that anyone who mistreats a child or inflicts physical or psychological suffering upon them—whether an employee of an educational institution or a close relative—will be held fully accountable. She purportedly emphasized that a child's safety cannot be conditional on circumstances, and those who infringe upon minors' lives and dignity must face uncompromising punishment.

Under the revised criminal code provisions, the penalty for raping a child under 14 now ranges from 15 to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment. Courts are now legally barred from considering mitigating factors such as voluntary surrender, sincere remorse, or compensation for damages when sentencing perpetrators of these grave offenses. Additionally, parole and conditional release mechanisms have been entirely restricted for individuals convicted of committing lethal or severe sexual crimes against minors.

Source: www.gazeta.uz