Senate Approves Life Imprisonment for Sexual Crimes Against Children Under 14

🚫 Senate approves life imprisonment for sexual crimes against children under 14

At the plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis held on October 2, the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Improvement of the System for Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence" was considered and approved.

✅ Up to 25 years or life imprisonment

The law establishes severe criminal penalties of up to 25 years or life imprisonment for rape of a minor under 14 and for forcible satisfaction of sexual needs against such victims.

Furthermore, statutes of limitations for criminal prosecution and execution of sentences shall not apply to especially grave crimes against the sexual inviolability of children.

Suspended sentences and parole (early conditional release) are completely banned for intentional crimes that result in the death of a child.

✅ Free state legal assistance and video-recorded questioning

Children who are victims of or witnesses to sexual violence are guaranteed qualified state-funded legal aid free of charge from the first minutes of procedural proceedings.

Questioning of minor victims must be recorded via video. Confrontations between child victims and suspects/defendants are subjected to special safeguards and may only proceed by order of the investigator, prosecutor, or court decision.

If violence was committed by family members or close relatives, the participation of guardianship and custody authorities in procedural actions is mandatory.

✅ Education personnel can be dismissed for child violence

Under amendments to the Labor Code, criminal or administrative liability of educational staff for violence against a child constitutes grounds for termination of employment at the initiative of the employer. Such individuals face a lifetime ban on working with children.

Administrative liability is intensified for parental negligence, intentional failure to satisfy basic child needs, violation of marital age laws, and failure to protect children from harmful information.

To protect victims from fear of retribution, authorities will withhold sending physical or electronic response letters to the residential address upon the victim's request.

"This will serve to prevent family conflict escalation and recurrent violence," the senator noted.

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Source: Official Information Channel