Uzbekistan’s Child Protection Reform: A New Legal Response to Digital Threats

In Uzbekistan, the promotion of human dignity, and in particular the reliable protection of children’s rights and interests, has consistently been ensured as one of the priorities of state policy.

In recent years, large-scale reforms have been carried out to protect children from all forms of abuse and violence, create a safe environment for them, and strengthen legal guarantees.

As a logical continuation of this consistent policy, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Amendments and Addenda to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Improving the System of Protecting Children from Violence”, adopted on April 17, 2026 has become one of the important legal steps aimed at further improving the system of protecting children from violence.

This Law introduces a number of important amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Code of Administrative Liability. It reflects a systematic approach aimed at comprehensively strengthening the legal mechanisms for child protection.

In particular, certain types of offences that had not been sufficiently covered in previous practice have now been given a clear legal assessment. Liability has also been strengthened for offences committed against children via the Internet and telecommunication networks.

These changes are particularly important because they respond to modern threats, especially the need to ensure children’s safety in the digital environment.

One of the most important aspects of the Law is the introduction of a new Article 129¹ into the Criminal Code. This provision establishes specific liability for the possession of pornographic material depicting or describing a minor with the intention of distribution, where such depiction or description is known to the offender. Such liability applies if the act is committed after an administrative penalty has already been imposed for similar conduct.

This crime is punishable by a fine ranging from one hundred to six hundred times the base calculation amount, correctional labour for up to three years, restriction of liberty for a term of one to three years, or imprisonment for up to three years.

This will help ensure the inevitability of punishment for crimes against children and serve to prevent such offences.

Within the framework of the Law, the Code of Administrative Liability was also supplemented with new provisions. In particular, separate administrative liability was introduced for the possession of pornographic material depicting a minor with the intention of distribution. For such an offence, a fine ranging from twenty to one hundred times the base calculation amount is prescribed.

These measures constitute an important legal instrument aimed at producing a preventive effect before a crime is committed.

Another important aspect of the Law is the introduction of provisions regulating the participation of children in criminal proceedings. In particular:

the participation of a legal representative for a minor witness has been made mandatory;

the duration of questioning has been clearly limited depending on the age of the child.

These provisions serve to reduce procedural pressure on children, protect their psychological well-being, and ensure the principles of humanity.

Based on the content of this Law, it can be said that it is not limited merely to strengthening liability. On the contrary, it forms a comprehensive approach that includes elements of prevention, protection, and rehabilitation.

This demonstrates that the Law has been developed in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards.

At the same time, protecting children in the digital environment, strengthening procedural guarantees, and preventing offences at an early stage are becoming strategic priorities of state policy.

International practice shows that the most effective approach to protecting children from violence is a comprehensive system that combines criminal liability, prevention, and rehabilitation measures.

In particular, under the Barnahus model introduced in Scandinavian countries, criminal cases involving children are handled in a single centralized environment. Under this approach, the child is questioned only once, while psychologists and law enforcement authorities participate jointly in the process. This significantly reduces the risk of re-traumatizing the child.

In European countries, particularly Germany and France, liability for crimes committed against children via the Internet has been strengthened, and a zero-tolerance policy applies to pornographic material involving children.

In the United States, a multidisciplinary approach based on the Child Advocacy Center model is used when working with children. Questioning is conducted in a specially adapted environment, recorded on video, and repeated questioning is minimized.

These best practices show that, in protecting children, it is crucial not only to strengthen punitive measures but also to ensure children’s rights at the procedural and institutional levels.

From this point of view, the adopted Law has been developed in harmony with international standards and represents an important step towards adapting national legislation to modern threats.

In conclusion, the Law marks a new stage in the field of child protection. By strengthening legal guarantees, introducing mechanisms responsive to modern threats, and prioritizing the interests of children in criminal proceedings, it forms a comprehensive and effective system.

Most importantly, these reforms are a practical expression of a humane policy aimed not only at the legal protection of children but also at ensuring their honour, dignity, and safety. After all, a society in which children are protected creates a solid foundation for stability, justice, and prosperity.

Farid Nazarov,

Head of the Legal Department National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan