Uzbekistan Plans Life Imprisonment for Sexual Crimes Against Children

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is set to toughen criminal penalties for sexual offenses against minors, including life imprisonment. These provisions are included in the draft program for implementing the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, which is currently open for public discussion.

According to the document, sexual offenses against individuals under the age of 14 would carry the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Investigations into criminal cases involving sexual and other violence against children will be entirely under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor’s Office.

To ensure effective investigation and judicial proceedings in cases of violence and coercion against women and children, a specialized corps of investigators and judges with relevant training is planned to be established.

The initiative’s authors emphasize that these measures aim to create a reliable protection system for the most vulnerable groups and to enhance the effectiveness of combating sexual crimes.