The punishment for human trafficking has been sharply increased: the new law has come into force

In order to further strengthen the fight against human trafficking in Uzbekistan, significant changes have been made to criminal liability. According to the law signed by the President and officially published on May 19, 2024, significant changes have been made to Article 135 of the Criminal Code (human trafficking).

According to the new procedure, if human trafficking is committed using forged documents, by hiding, taking away or destroying the victim's personal documents, the guilty person will be sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison. Previously, such a situation was punishable by 5–8 years in prison.

The law has included another important aspect: if this crime resulted in the death of the victim or other serious consequences, the guilty person will be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. Previously, such situations were punished by 8–12 years in prison.

The law was adopted by the Legislative Chamber on September 17, 2024, approved by the Senate on December 21, and entered into force on May 19, after its official publication.

The Zamin.uz editorial team continues to cover news on improving the mechanisms for legal action against human trafficking. Do you think these tough measures will deter serious crimes such as human trafficking? Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!