In a united effort to protect the rights and well-being of children in Uzbekistan, the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP), the Ministry of Justice, and UNICEF have issued a strong call for swift and decisive national action to enact the draft Law for the Protection of Children from all Forms of Violence. This groundbreaking legislation represents a crucial first step toward creating a safer and more nurturing environment for the nation's children.
This call to action was made during a high-level national roundtable held on October 10 in Tashkent. The event brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, legal experts, child protection advocates, civil society organizations, and international agencies, to address the pressing issue of violence against children.
"Violence is not just a serious violation of human rights, it has an impact on the rest of a child’s life. We want to break the silence regarding this acute problem, change the attitudes in society due to which it still exists," voiced Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of NASP.
The proposed legislation is in alignment with recent amendments to Uzbekistan's criminal code, which have strengthened legal protections against violence for girls, boys, and women. Furthermore, the development of a tailored legal framework with the primary goal of protecting children from various forms of harm will involve the establishment and implementation of comprehensive, multi-sector services designed to proactively identify and respond to instances of violence.
The latest global statistics reveal a distressing reality: more than 1 bn children worldwide experience physical, emotional, or sexual abuse each year. A recent MICS study sheds light on the situation in Uzbekistan, where a staggering 62% of children aged 1-14 endure severe disciplinary actions, including physical punishment and psychological aggression. Alarmingly, 33% of girls aged 15-19 in the country hold the belief that it is permissible for a husband to use violence against his wife.
Once adopted, the new law promises to significantly benefit children across Uzbekistan by enhancing safety, reinforcing legal safeguards, and expanding support systems. These support systems will encompass family counseling, mental health and psychosocial assistance, life skills education, and access to safe shelters, all of which are essential for ensuring the well-being and protection of children from violence, fear, and harm.
During the high-level roundtable, which facilitated a multi-stakeholder dialogue to scrutinize key provisions of the draft law and identify areas for potential enhancement, UNICEF Regional Director Regina De Dominicis, on her inaugural visit to Tashkent, emphasized the transformative potential of this legislation.
"This law, if enacted has the power to shape the lives of the children of Uzbekistan, to protect them, to nurture them, and to enable them to reach their potential," she remarked.
De Dominicis underscored the importance of aligning the draft with the highest standards of child protection to ensure it serves as a genuine force for change in the lives of all Uzbekistan's children.
The draft law represents the culmination of extensive working group meetings involving line ministers under the Ministry of Justice's leadership. The roundtable marks the latest effort to ensure comprehensive scrutiny and understanding of the draft law's implications and potential impact on child protection. Participants will continue to evaluate the legislation's strengths and weaknesses through comparative analysis and assessment against international standards, ultimately leading to recommendations for amendments or improvements to the draft law.
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