On March 3, Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals and new initiatives aimed at further strengthening the protection of women's and children's rights and preventing harassment and violence against them. The presentation reviewed measures developed by the general public, industry experts, and international best practices. The head of state approved these initiatives and signed a corresponding decree.
The greatest attention was paid to issues that were hotly debated in society. In particular, a proposal was put forward to further strengthen the administrative penalty for sexual harassment, and to establish a punishment for pedophiles up to life imprisonment. Also among the important steps approved were the refusal to transfer persons who have committed sexual crimes against minors to settlement colonies, and the transfer of investigative powers for certain sexual crimes from the internal affairs bodies to the prosecutor's office.
The new initiatives emphasized that cases of violence against women and children should be considered by specially trained lawyers, investigators, and judges. In addition, a proposal was made to install a special "SOS" application on the phones of women who have been victims of violence and who have received protection orders to strengthen their safety. According to it, when the call button is pressed, internal affairs officers within a 5-kilometer radius must arrive at the destination within 10 minutes.
The issue of early marriage and early pregnancy was also raised at the presentation. It is noted that the majority of marriages are concluded between the ages of 18-19, but in international recommendations, 21 is indicated as the most acceptable age for marriage. Based on this, it was proposed to introduce additional financial support mechanisms to encourage marriage between persons who have reached the age of 21, and to increase the number of marriage contracts by providing a state duty exemption.
At the same time, it is planned to create a special interdepartmental system for reporting cases of early marriage and pregnancy under the age of 16 to the internal affairs bodies and "Inson" social service centers. One of the most noteworthy aspects is the approval of the proposal to establish administrative liability for failure to report such cases. Through this, it is planned to increase the effectiveness of identifying cases that remain hidden.
Another important innovation is measures to preserve the possibility of continuing education for pregnant female students or those raising children under 3 years of age. This initiative is aimed at preventing them from dropping out of school and not limiting their life opportunities.
In short, the new decisions are aimed not only at strengthening punishment, but also at systematically protecting the safety of women and children, raising the fight against early marriage and violence to a new level. If these initiatives are fully implemented, significant changes can occur in society.
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