Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has tightened penalties for violence against children, introducing life imprisonment or prison terms of up to 25 years for rape and violent sexual acts against children under the age of 14. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the law on 14 October 2026, according to Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration.
The law, titled “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Improving the System of Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence,” was adopted by the Legislative Chamber on 30 September and approved by the Senate on 2 October. It amends five codes — the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Enforcement Code, Labour Code and Code of Administrative Liability — as well as six laws. The legislation will enter into force on the date of its official publication.
Under the amendments, sexual offences against children under 14 are included among crimes punishable by long prison terms of 20 to 25 years or life imprisonment. Statutes of limitation do not apply to these offences. The same rule applies to certain other forms of rape and violent sexual acts specified in the law.
The legislation also strengthens penalties for crimes resulting in a child's death. People who intentionally commit such crimes will not be eligible for suspended sentences or parole. Intentionally inflicting serious or moderate bodily injury on a minor will now be considered an aggravating circumstance.
The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code introduce additional safeguards for children during investigations and court proceedings. Child victims and witnesses in sexual violence cases will be provided with lawyers at the state's expense.
If a child is subjected to a crime by a parent, adoptive parent, guardian, custodian or other relative, a representative of the guardianship and trusteeship authority must participate in all procedural actions, from pretrial proceedings through the court hearing.
Confrontations between a minor victim and a suspect in sexual violence cases will be permitted only under an order issued by an investigator, inquiry officer or prosecutor, or a court ruling.
The law on state-funded legal assistance has also been expanded to include children who have experienced violence or witnessed it. They will be eligible for legal assistance from the moment they become involved in procedural actions.
The Code of Administrative Liability now imposes broader responsibilities on parents and their substitutes. Liability will apply not only to failure to fulfil child-rearing duties but also to neglect, defined as the intentional failure to meet a child's basic needs when this harms the child's health or physical, mental or moral development. The offence carries a fine of five to 10 basic calculation units. Fines have also been increased under several other provisions related to children's rights.
Two new articles have been added to the code. Distributing information prohibited for children that harms their health will result in confiscation of the material and fines of seven basic calculation units for individuals and 50 for officials. Failure to comply with decisions issued by children's affairs commissions will carry fines of three to five basic calculation units for individuals and five to seven for officials.
The Labour Code now provides a new ground for terminating employment contracts with staff at educational organisations who are responsible for children's upbringing and education if they are held liable for violence against a child.
The law also abolishes specialised educational and residential institutions for minors. Courts will instead be able to refer adolescents to educational organisations, residential care institutions and social service facilities. A new supervisory measure allows courts to place adolescents aged 14 to 18 under the supervision of their parents or heads of crime prevention authorities.
In addition, written responses will no longer be sent to complaints concerning harassment or violence against women and children if the applicant specifically requests that no written response be provided.
The law also refers to Uzbekistan's previous accession to the Bogotá Call to Action, its admission to the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, and the adoption of the 2026–2030 Strategy for Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence.