Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the thirty-fifth plenary session of the Senate, senators discussed the Law "On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan aimed at reliable protection of the rights and legitimate interests of convicts."

It was noted that the analysis of penitentiary practice and the results of a direct dialogue with the public indicate the need to strengthen the guarantees of the rights and freedoms of convicts, further improve the conditions of detention of convicts and bring them in line with international standards, as well as include a period of paid work in the general work experience of convicts, involved in work in institutions for the execution of punishment.

In view of the foregoing and in order to ensure the implementation of the Program approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 28 January 2022 “On approval of the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs developed a draft of this Law.

The law introduces amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On State Pension Provision of Citizens” and the Penitentiary Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which provide for the inclusion in the total length of service of persons sentenced to imprisonment, the period of work and the payment of social tax.

The law clearly establishes the inclusion in the total length of service of persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty, the period of work and the payment of social tax, the inadmissibility of the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading forms of treatment or punishment against convicts, as well as the right of convicts to use, along with the services of an interpreter and the services of a sign language interpreter, the inadmissibility of using a straitjacket for convicts.

At the same time, it is envisaged that common living quarters intended for persons with disabilities of groups I and II must be equipped with special equipment and devices. Another important point is that the criteria for determining the formation of convicts on the path of correction are clearly established, issues of encouraging convicts, the right of convicts to deprivation of liberty to watch films and television programs, listen to radio programs in their free hours, except for the time allotted for night rest.

The adoption of the Law will allow prisoners to receive a pension in the future by including their length of service in the institution in the total length of service and, most importantly, this will eliminate corruption factors in assessing the behavior of convicts by establishing strict criteria that determine their transition to the path of correction.

The law was approved by the senators.