The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis passed the bill on September 29. The legislation was initiated by the Adolat party faction and seeks to strengthen the system for protecting children from all forms of violence.
The bill proposes amendments to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Code of Administrative Responsibility and several other laws.
Under the proposed changes, severe penalties would be introduced for sexual violence and other crimes against children. The bill also includes measures to strengthen legal protection for child victims, prevent violence and increase the responsibility of organizations and officials responsible for child safety.
For sexual intercourse with a person under 14 or the forcible satisfaction of sexual desire through an unnatural method, the bill proposes long-term imprisonment or life imprisonment, according to the Legislative Chamber’s press service.
The legislation would also remove certain statutory time limits for sexual crimes against children. People who commit crimes against children’s sexual freedom would not be exempt from criminal liability because the limitation period had expired, nor from punishment because the period for enforcing a sentence had elapsed.
The bill proposes additional safeguards for child victims during criminal proceedings. Interrogations of minors who have suffered violence would be recorded on video, while confrontations between child victims and suspects, defendants or convicted persons in cases involving sexual crimes would be conducted under a special procedure.
If the alleged violence was committed by a close relative of the child, a representative of the guardianship and trusteeship authority would be required to participate in pretrial proceedings and court hearings.
The bill would also establish a mechanism for children who have experienced violence or witnessed it to receive legal assistance at the state’s expense.
