“Uzbekistan has overtaken Kazakhstan” – An expert speaks about differences in laws of the two countries on domestic violence

“Uzbekistan has introduced administrative and criminal liability for domestic violence. Uzbekistan has overtaken Kazakhstan because it provides for liability for domestic violence and any type of violence against children, polygamy, and even the propaganda of polygamy is prohibited.

It’s interesting that most of the initiatives there are taken by the daughter of the country’s leader. She is an empathetic person and this bothers her, so she raises these issues. Everyone is supporting.

In Kazakhstan, the first president also had three daughters. But none of them raised the topic of domestic violence, one was busy singing all the time, the other was advertising diamonds. They were never interested in how ordinary people live,” Adjigulova said in an interview with the Kazakh publication ULYS MEDIA.

What did Adjigulova mean?

The acceptance of violence against women and children in society for granted was sharply condemned by Saida Mirziyoyeva, the daughter of the current head of state Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who works as an assistant to the president. She laid emphasis on the damage caused to society by the rise in such cases, the need to take strict action against it was brought up on the agenda.

After this, a working group under the Senate was formed and began work with the aim of making the necessary changes to existing laws. The adoption of the bill, which caused great public outcry, was not easy. Mirziyoyeva herself admitted that this struggle was very difficult. But the intended goal was achieved. Today, domestic violence in Uzbekistan is considered a crime. Social activists said the law has historical significance and is based on national and moral values.

Now women and children are protected by the legislation of Uzbekistan. In particular, the level of public danger of sexually motivated crimes has increased by an order of magnitude; previously considered minor crimes were included in the category of serious crimes, and serious ones – in the category of especially serious crimes. Separate administrative and criminal liability for family (domestic) violence and administrative liability for harassment have been established.

A unified register of persons who have committed crimes dangerous to the life, health or morals of children is also being created. Persons included in this register are prohibited from working in the field of education, upbringing, children’s healthcare, sports and creative organizations, as well as from engaging in activities that involve direct work with children.