Starting from September 2026, a new law will come into effect in Uzbekistan that introduces administrative liability for employees of educational institutions, medical organizations, and social protection services for concealing facts of violence against minors. This step is part of a decree by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, published on December 24, concerning the strategy for protecting children from violence for the period from 2026 to 2030.
This requirement applies to employees of all organizations, regardless of their ownership structure, meaning that both state and private schools, hospitals, and social services will be subject to these sanctions. The decree states that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the General Prosecutor's Office, and the Ministry of Justice must develop the necessary legislative amendments within three months.
From September 1, 2026, free legal assistance will also be provided for children who are victims or witnesses of violence, funded by the state budget.
Moreover, at all stages of the investigation and court proceedings, if the violence is committed by close relatives or legal representatives of the child, the involvement of guardianship authorities will become mandatory.
To prevent repeated psychological trauma in minors, their preliminary testimonies will be recorded on video, eliminating the need for multiple interrogations.
Confrontations between suspects of sexual crimes and children will be conducted only by special decision of the investigator, prosecutor, or court.
By April 2026, the launch of a Unified Electronic Platform is planned, which will be integrated with the "Digital Government" system and the emergency service "112". This platform will collect information about children in need of protection, as well as about individuals committing or prone to violence, allowing for unified statistical accounting and monitoring the response of state authorities to cases of violence.
Finally, starting in February 2026, short-term courses will be organized to improve the qualifications of law enforcement personnel, where investigators, prosecutors, judges, and lawyers working on child violence cases will be trained.
