Parliament to consider bill toughening penalties for violence against children

11:222044 min

A bill aimed at strengthening protections for children from all forms of violence has been submitted to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and will be considered at a plenary session on September 29.

Legislative Chamber

Parliament to consider bill toughening penalties for violence against children — Legislative Chamber

The bill was drafted at the initiative of the Adolat Social Democratic Party faction following public outrage over the sexual assault of a five-year-old girl at a state kindergarten in Uchkorgon district of Namangan region.

The Legislative Chamber’s Council has approved the bill for consideration at the upcoming plenary session. The chamber’s Committee on the Development of Democratic Institutions and Civil Society has been designated as the lead committee.

The proposed legislation would introduce amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Code of Administrative Responsibility and other laws to significantly strengthen liability for violence against children.

The initiative follows growing calls for tougher penalties after the reported sexual assault of the girl at a kindergarten in Namangan region.

On September 23, authorities reported that a five-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted at a state kindergarten in Uchkorgon district. According to the child’s relatives, she was repeatedly abused by the 52-year-old head of the kindergarten’s administrative department. A criminal case was opened, and the suspect was taken into custody.

On September 26, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education said it had formed a working group to investigate the incident. Employment contracts with kindergarten employees found to have been involved were also terminated.

The Children’s Ombudsman submitted a formal recommendation to the ministry calling for those responsible to be held accountable, the causes that allowed the incident to occur to be addressed, and child safety and internal oversight mechanisms in kindergartens to be strengthened.

On September 27, Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, said the perpetrator should receive the strictest punishment permitted by law. She also said that officials whose negligence had allowed the incident to occur should be held accountable.

Mirziyoyeva added that a proposal was being prepared to amend legislation and significantly strengthen liability for crimes of this kind against children.