In the first 10 months of this year, 15,826 people in Uzbekistan faced criminal or administrative charges for domestic violence. This is more than a 1.5 times increase compared to the period from April, when the provisions in the laws were first enforced, to December 2023.
The Senate of Uzbekistan approved amendments to laws introducing liability for domestic violence against children.The law was drafted based on the World Bank recommendations.
Inson Social Service Centers will assist victims of harassment and violence without requiring a protection order. Victims will receive a protection order within 24 hours of the incident being reported, enabling them to access medical and psychological support at hospitals 24/7.
In the initial quarter of the current year, 4,477 individuals faced administrative and criminal charges under domestic violence statutes in Uzbekistan. Among them, 318 were convicted of sexual harassment, while 40 were found guilty of disseminating intimate information.
During an interview with UN News, Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan, described challenges in passing Central Asia’s first law criminalizing domestic violence and stressed the importance of considering women’s voices in budget allocation and resource distribution.
The President signed legislation aimed at protecting women and minors from violence, according to Saida Mirziyoyeva. The legislation not only criminalizes domestic abuse, harassment, and stalking, but also precludes those convicted of sexual violence from receiving parole or leniency in sentencing.
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