The Senate today approved the bill that toughens penalties for violence against children and expands their protection during investigations and court proceedings. The bill takes effect once the president signs it.
The amendments stipulate harsher punishments for certain sexual crimes against children, additional procedural safeguards for underage victims and witnesses, and restrictions on people convicted of violence against children.
The law continues reforms set out in the Strategy for Protecting Children From All Forms of Violence for 2026-2030.
One of the key changes concerns punishment for the gravest sexual crimes against children under 14.
The law implements a penalty of up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment for the rape of a child under 14 and for forced sexual acts of an unnatural nature against such a child.
Statutes of limitations will no longer apply to prosecution or to the enforcement of sentences for the gravest crimes against children's sexual integrity. Suspended sentences and parole will be barred for intentional crimes that result in a child's death.
At the Senate session, Abdulhakim Eshmuratov, chairman of the Committee on Judicial and Legal Issues and Combating Corruption, presented figures on crimes against children.
Under Part 4 of Article 118 of the Criminal Code (Rape of a person under 14), 85 criminal cases were opened in 2022, 108 in 2023, 129 in 2024 and 123 in 2025.
Under Part 4 of Article 119 (Forced sexual acts of an unnatural nature against a person under 14), 144 cases were registered in 2022, 163 in 2023, 170 in 2024 and 116 in 2025.
Reports of sexual harassment of minors rose from 56 in 2023 to 141 in 2025.
Senators also cited high-profile cases in the Uchkurgan district of Namangan Province and in Tashkent Province as examples of why protection of children from sexual violence needs strengthening.
The amendments broaden procedural safeguards for minors who are victims or witnesses of violence. They will receive free, qualified legal assistance at state expense from their first involvement in any procedural action.
A special procedure is set for face-to-face confrontations between a child victim of a sexual crime and a suspect, defendant or accused person. Such a confrontation may be held only on the decision of an investigator or prosecutor, or by court order.
If the violence was committed by a family member or close relative, the participation of a representative of the guardianship authorities in procedural actions will be mandatory.
Amendments to the Labor Code allow employers to terminate the contracts of educational institution staff who have been held liable for violence against a child.
Such individuals will also face restrictions on future work with children.
The law increases administrative liability for improper performance of duties toward children. This covers failure to provide proper care, intentional neglect of a child's basic needs, violations of marriage-age legislation, and failure to protect children from information that could harm their health.
Separate provisions aim to protect the confidentiality of women and children who have been harassed or abused. At their request, state bodies may refrain from sending written or electronic replies to their home address. Senators said the measure should reduce the risk of repeat violence and of escalating family conflict.
The amendments also provide for liability for improper childcare, and for failing to carry out or obstructing the decisions of commissions on children's issues.
The law abolishes the coercive measure of placing a minor in a special educational and correctional institution. It will be replaced by alternative measures, including referral to an educational, upbringing or social organization and supervised release with a warning.
Intentionally causing serious or moderate harm to a minor's health will be treated as an aggravating circumstance. Liability is also increased for drawing minors into antisocial behavior and for indecent acts committed by a group of people against a child under 16.
The push for tougher legislation follows a high-profile case of sexual abuse of a 5-year-old girl at a state kindergarten in the Uchkurgan district of Namangan Province. A criminal case was opened on September 12 under Part 4 of Article 118 of the Criminal Code (rape of a person under 14), and a kindergarten employee, identified as K.M., was placed in custody.
The girl's mother said the abuse may have happened more than once and that her daughter has since become more fearful and is afraid to walk past the kindergarten.
On September 27, the head of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's administration, Saida Mirziyoyeva, said that not only the perpetrators but also those who allowed the abuse, acted negligently and failed to protect the child must be punished. She also said proposals were being prepared to impose the maximum possible penalties for such crimes.
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