Uzbekistan has introduced life imprisonment for sexual violence against children under the age of 14 under a new law signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The legislation also abolishes the statute of limitations for such crimes and strengthens protections for child victims.
The law was announced by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, according to the Fergana news agency.
The amendments cover the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Penal Enforcement Code, the Labor Code and the Code of Administrative Liability.
Under the new provisions, sexual violence against children under 14 is punishable by up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment. The statute of limitations for these offences has been abolished.
The law also introduces tougher penalties for other offences involving children, including failure to fulfil parental duties, sexual harassment, violations of the minimum legal age for marriage and allowing children access to information harmful to their health.
Additional protection for child victims
The legislation introduces additional safeguards for minors who have experienced violence or witnessed it. Child victims are guaranteed free legal assistance from the moment they first participate in procedural proceedings.
Interrogations of minor victims must be video-recorded in all cases to help prevent further psychological trauma caused by repeated questioning.
Confrontations between child victims of sexual offences and suspects will be permitted only under a special decision by authorized officials or a court.
The law also allows employers to dismiss staff members of educational and childcare institutions who have committed violence against children.
During discussions of the bill in Uzbekistan’s Senate, lawmakers reported that 122 cases of violence against children had been identified in educational institutions in 2025. Of these, 38 occurred in kindergartens and 84 in schools.