The state program adopted in Uzbekistan for 2026 as part of the "Year of Neighborhood Development and Society Upliftment" outlines important initiatives aimed at strengthening the safety of women and children. One of the most stringent measures in this direction is the plan to introduce penalties of up to life imprisonment for sexual crimes committed against persons under the age of 14.
According to sources, these norms are scheduled to come into force on April 1, 2026. That is, if changes are made to the legislation, the punishment for serious crimes such as sexual assault against children will become even more severe.
The important point that experts emphasize is this: not only studies on “blue zones”, but also on the issue of legal protection, the demand in society is strong - child safety should not be a “topic of discussion”, but a priority direction in state policy. In this sense, this initiative is a signal aimed at strengthening protection through prevention and the inevitability of punishment.
The program also lists a number of other areas: strengthening anti-violence measures, improving the judicial system, taking the fight against corruption to a new level, and increasing the share of “green” energy are also on the agenda.
In short, the main goal of this step in the 2026 reform package is one: to strengthen the protection of children not on paper, but in practice. If this really works, society will also breathe a sigh of relief - there is hope that “it will not be too late.”
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