Uzbekistan has made significant progress in advancing women's rights throughout its history, from the pre-Soviet era to the present day. Starting from a strongly religious culture, similar to what we can observe now in Afghanistan, to the acquisition of a law against domestic violence in 1Q2023. Though the minds of the citizens are yet to adapt to these changes, women are now guaranteed their freedoms by the state constitution.
Pre-Soviet Era
During the pre-Soviet era, Uzbekistan’s society was primarily patriarchal, with limited opportunities for women's education and participation in public life. Women were predominantly confined to domestic roles and had limited access to formal education or employment opportunities. However, some women from privileged backgrounds had the opportunity to receive education and engage in literary and cultural activities.
Soviet Era (1924-1991)
During the Soviet rule in Uzbekistan, there were conflicting perspectives on the impact of Soviet influence on women's status in society. While the state claimed to have liberated women from Islamic and traditional customs, it disregarded the earlier efforts of the indigenous jadid movement that fought for women's equality and education.
The Soviet government launched a campaign in 1927, known as the Attack, to eradicate oppressive practices and promote women's emancipation, including unveiling and combating child marriage. However, resistance from men and the revival of traditional practices limited the effectiveness of these efforts. The Soviet regime continued to promote women's participation in education and employment, contributing to increased literacy rates and women's enrollment in higher education.
Nevertheless, societal changes led to a reinforcement of traditional gender roles in the domestic sphere, even as modernization progressed in the public realm. Marriage and family structures remained patriarchal, with high fertility rates among local families. In the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union underwent glasnost, Uzbekistan’s social critics began to challenge the negative aspects of the Soviet legacy, including the burden placed on women through their integration into the labor force.
his period also witnessed debates on returning to "traditional" roles for women, which women's activists argued would curtail their access to education and employment.
Post-Independence Era (1991-present)
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Following the independence of Uzbekistan in 1991, there was a clash between assertions of national tradition and the Soviet legacy of women's equality. The country experienced a conservative shift in attitudes towards women's roles in society and the workforce, as well as family structures, during the post-Soviet turmoil.
The government under President Islam Karimov adopted a contradictory stance, claiming to promote women's equality while simultaneously emphasizing national culture and pre-Soviet traditions. The government's position towards Islam further complicates matters, as it promotes Islam as part of national identity but suppresses it when it challenges state authority. The government portrays Islam as a threat to women's rights, disregarding the historical support for female emancipation within the region's own Islamic heritage.
Since independence, there has been a religious revival in Uzbekistan, with some individuals seeking alternative forms of belief and practice outside of state-controlled Islam. However, the state has responded with hostility towards uncontrolled expressions of religious belief and has passed laws restricting religious practices and prohibiting the wearing of "religious dress" in public. Women who choose to veil face harassment, including arrests and fines, as the state perceives veiling as a symbol of independent Islam and a potential challenge to its authority.
Despite these challenges, Uzbekistan has enshrined gender equality in its constitution and implemented administrative measures to promote women's status. The Family Code guarantees women's equality before the law, and the government has established the National Women's Committee with representatives holding government posts. However, the effectiveness and influence of these committees have been questioned, with some considering them merely administrative bodies without significant policy-making roles.
Women's Status in the Family and Society
Since independence, Uzbekistan’s government has taken minimal action to protect women's basic human rights, leading to erosion in their access to education and employment, the UNDP report concludes. The average age of marriage, especially for girls, has declined in the past decade, despite the legal minimum age of marriage set at seventeen for girls and eighteen for boys.
Religious marriages that evade legal age limits are often tolerated by local authorities. Early marriage restricts women's opportunities for education and employment outside the home, and decisions about their lives are often made by their in-laws. Women's educational attainment has significantly declined since the post-Soviet period, with a decrease in the proportion of women enrolled in higher educational institutions.
Changing social attitudes and unspoken state policies may contribute to this decline, as some officials believe that post-secondary education should be limited to men. The economic hardships following the dissolution of communism have disproportionately affected women's status and well-being. Unemployment has increased, particularly in the state sector, although official statistics downplay the problem.
Women are increasingly concentrated in low-wage sectors and experience wage disparities compared to men for the same work.
Main Problems on the Road to Gender Equality
Prevailing attitudes in Uzbekistan’s society, which view women as possessions and limit their choices in marriage, education, and employment, pose a significant barrier to achieving gender equality and upholding women's human rights. However, Uzbekistan’s government has taken active steps in recent years to promote women's rights and address inequalities in the country.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasized the importance of increasing the role and status of women in society, while the appointment of Tanyila Narbaeva as the first female Head of the Senate and the establishment of a committee on gender equality within the Senate demonstrate progress in female representation in governmental positions.
Spiritual leaders have also played a role in addressing gender issues, with the Chief Imam of Tashkent highlighting the importance of protecting women's honor and condemning violence against women. New laws on gender equality and protection from harassment and violence have been adopted, although further improvements and mechanisms are needed for effective implementation. The establishment of shelters for victims of gender-based violence is another positive development, although funding and support for these shelters remain insufficient.
To enhance access to justice, the government has approved the provision of free legal counsel in court cases related to gender-based violence. Efforts have also been made to address the inaccessibility of services in rural areas through the establishment of mobile legal clinics. Additionally, the collection and appraisal of gender data have been recognized as crucial for guiding gender policy, and collaborative efforts with the United Nations are underway to improve data gathering in Uzbekistan. Overall, while challenges persist, there are notable efforts and initiatives being undertaken to promote gender equality and address gender-based violence in the country.
Recent amendments to the constitution amidst scandalous cases of human rights abuse
The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted a set of amendments to the Codes of Criminal and Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan on protecting women and minors from violence. Saida Mirziyoyeva reacted to amendments on her Telegram channel.
The basis of the draft law was drawn up by a task force of activists and experts established under the Senate, which advocated the amendments to the law until the very last point of the draft. In particular, domestic violence was transferred to criminal offenses, economic and psychological violence, and punishment for violence against minors was strengthened. Mirziyoyeva noted that this is a victory not only for the women of Uzbekistan but also for all thoughtful and progressive people.
"I see it as a victory for our civil society and activists, a victory for common sense and justice. We strived towards it for a long time, and it wasn't easy, but together we proved that these amendments are essential in our laws for them to become progressive and humane. There is still a lot of work ahead, but success always inspires. I thank everyone who supported these changes, worked on documents, and promoted these ideas in society. It is a victory not only for the women of Uzbekistan but also for all thinking and progressive people," - Saida Mirziyoyeva said.
Pedophilia in CIA
In Uzbekistan, the Khorezm affair stroke in late March-early April. This is a high-profile case where in the Khorezm region for a long-time officials maintained sexual relations with orphans. However, they received only minor penalties for their crimes, which consisted in restricting their freedom.
Thus, "Daryo" compared punishments for pedophilia among Central Asian countries.
Uzbekistan
In the Republic of Uzbekistan, community service of up to 480 hours, correctional labor of up to 3 years, restriction of freedom from 1 to 3 years, or imprisonment from 1 to 3 years can be assigned for this crime. Previously, community service of up to 360 hours or correctional work of up to 2 years was relied on for this crime.
Turkmenistan
Similarly to Uzbekistan, in Turkmenistan, the maximum term for sexual attraction to minors is up to 3 years in prison. At the same time, the criminal in some cases can get off only with a fine, which ranges from $3.300 to $9.900.
Kyrgyzstan
In this Central Asian country, the maximum term is also low - from 1 to 3 years in prison. If the parent committed the offense, then the number increases to 5 years. They will also be banned from working as teachers or in another profession related to working with children.
Tajikistan
In 2021, 16 cases of rape of minors were recorded in Tajikistan. There was also a high-profile case in this country involving an 8-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man. Then the man raped the minor and then killed her. He received a life sentence.
Now the law in Tajikistan provides for a term of 3 to 5 years in prison, but if the victim was infected with HIV - from 5 to 8 years.
Kazakhstan
The most severe punishment throughout Central Asia is observed in Kazakhstan. There, those accused of pedophilia can receive up to 12 years in prison. If someone who is responsible for raising a child (such as a parent, stepfather, stepmother, or teacher) commits sexual acts with that child, then they will be punished with 10 to 15 years in prison, and they are disqualified from holding certain positions.
To conclude, Uzbekistan has made decent progress compared to what it was not only in the pre-Soviet eras but also during the first president's term. Now women have laws protecting their rights and the younger generations are using the laws for their own benefit, while the older generation is trying to catch up and leave traditional boundaries of face-saving.
Prepared by Nigora Umarova
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