Uzbekistan has introduced life imprisonment for sexual violence against children. Here is how the five Central Asian countries punish sexual offences against minors, including rape, other violent sexual acts and non-violent offences.
Violent sexual crimes against children under 14
- Uzbekistan: Up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment. There is no statute of limitations for particularly serious crimes against children’s sexual integrity.
- Kazakhstan: Life imprisonment.
- Kyrgyzstan: 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.
- Tajikistan: 12 to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment for the rape of a girl under 14. Although the Criminal Code provides for the death penalty, a moratorium on its execution remains in force. Violent sexual acts are punishable by 20 to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment.
- Turkmenistan: 10 to 25 years in prison for the rape of a girl under 14; 10 to 20 years for violent sodomy against a boy under 14 or other specified forms of violent sexual acts.
Violent sexual crimes against adolescents aged 14–17
- Uzbekistan: 10 to 15 years in prison. There is no statute of limitations for particularly serious sexual crimes against children.
- Kazakhstan: 15 to 17 years in prison. The penalty may increase to 17 to 20 years or life imprisonment if the crime is committed against two or more minors or, in circumstances specified by law, by a parent, stepparent, teacher or another person responsible for the child’s upbringing.
- Kyrgyzstan: 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.
- Tajikistan: 7 to 12 years in prison, along with a lifetime ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities. More severe penalties may apply under aggravating circumstances.
- Turkmenistan: 5 to 15 years in prison for the rape of a girl known to be a minor and 5 to 10 years for violent sodomy against a minor.
Sexual acts with a person under 16 without violence
- Uzbekistan: Three to five years of restricted liberty or imprisonment. If the offence involves material payments or other benefits, the penalty is five to eight years in prison. Repeated offences, offences against a close relative, or offences committed by a person responsible for the child’s upbringing, education or guardianship carry penalties of eight to 10 years.
- Kazakhstan: Up to five years of restricted liberty or imprisonment, along with a lifetime ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities. If the offender is a parent, stepparent, teacher or another person responsible for the child’s upbringing, the penalty is seven to 12 years. Repeat offences or offences against two or more people carry 12 to 15 years in prison.
- Kyrgyzstan: Eight to 10 years in prison.
- Tajikistan: Two to five years in prison, along with a lifetime ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities. The penalty increases to three to five years for repeat offences, abuse of official position, infection with a sexually transmitted disease, or offences committed by a parent, teacher or another person responsible for the child’s upbringing. If the victim contracts HIV, the penalty is five to eight years.
- Turkmenistan: A fine of 10 to 30 times the established base amount, corrective labor for up to two years, or imprisonment for up to three years.
Indecent acts against children under 16
- Uzbekistan: Two to three years of restricted liberty or imprisonment. If the victim is under 14 or other aggravating circumstances apply, the penalty is three to five years.
- Kazakhstan: Seven to 12 years in prison, along with a lifetime ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities.
- Kyrgyzstan: Seven to 10 years in prison.
- Tajikistan: Up to two years of restricted liberty or imprisonment. Under certain aggravating circumstances, the penalty increases to five to eight years.
- Turkmenistan: Up to three years in prison.