Uzbekistan set to enforce sweeping new child protection law

Law expected to take effect May 15 introduces protection orders, family interventions, and permanent bans on abusive educators

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan is preparing to implement a landmark child protection law, expected to take effect on May 15, aimed at tackling widespread violence against children through legal reforms, protection orders, and stricter accountability for families and educators.

The new law, titled “On the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence,” will introduce a range of measures, including family assessments, removal of children from abusive homes, and permanent disqualification of teachers found guilty of violent conduct. 

The law follows alarming data showing that six out of ten children under age 14 in Uzbekistan experience psychological abuse, and nearly a third face physical punishment, Qalampir.uz reports.

According to a 2022 UNICEF-backed study, only 31% of children in Uzbekistan are raised using non-violent methods. Around 29% are subjected to physical punishment, while 4% suffer severe violence.

The study also revealed that 11% of mothers and caregivers believe physical discipline is justified — and nearly 41% of women surveyed condone the use of violence against themselves under certain circumstances.

Experts say this normalization of violence contributes to intergenerational trauma, divorce rates, and a tense social climate.

Children raised in such environments often repeat these behaviors in adulthood — either as perpetrators or victims.

Uzbekistan has been a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1994, but rights advocates have long called for stronger domestic laws.

The upcoming law, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in November 2024, contains 51 articles that define violence broadly to include physical, emotional, and sexual harm — even when transmitted through digital platforms.

Legal measures for child protection

Article 28 of the law allows for immediate intervention when a child’s life or health is in danger. This includes detaining the alleged perpetrator, issuing a protection order, and removing the child from the family if necessary.

According to Article 38, children removed from abusive environments may be placed with non-violent parents, relatives, willing guardians, medical facilities, or shelters for victims.

Laylo Fayzimurodova, deputy head of child services at the ministry of internal affairs, told Qalampir.uz that family evaluations will accompany each case.

“If a parent poses a threat to a child’s safety, the child is removed and legal documents are submitted to the courts to limit or terminate parental rights,” she said. These decisions, she emphasized, are court-authorized only.

Protection orders, as defined in Article 32, will initially be valid for 30 days and can be extended by criminal courts for up to a year.

Violating such an order could lead to fines or up to 15 days of administrative detention, according to Uzbekistan’s Code of Administrative Offenses.

If the perpetrator lives in the same household as the child, the law allows temporary bans from entering the shared residence or approaching the child’s school or other frequented places.

The law will also introduce sweeping changes in the education sector. Article 44 prohibits corporal punishment or verbal abuse in schools and kindergartens.

A new legislative initiative proposes that any teacher found guilty of such behavior be permanently barred from pedagogical work.

Amendments under consideration would revise the Code of Administrative Responsibility and laws governing early childhood education and teacher licensing. Individuals found administratively liable for abuse would be disqualified from teaching positions and barred from employment in schools and preschools.

The changes follow growing public concern over reports of abuse in educational institutions — many of which have gone viral on social media.

The law aligns with global child protection efforts. According to UNICEF, one adolescent dies every seven minutes due to violence, while 176 million children worldwide witness domestic abuse.

In Uzbekistan, where a significant percentage of abuse is justified under the guise of discipline or “nurture,” the law is expected to challenge cultural norms and spark national debate.

While rights advocates have welcomed the move, questions remain about the law’s implementation and whether institutional reforms will accompany it.

Still, with its strong enforcement provisions and broad scope, the law marks a significant step in confronting abuse.