Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 20 November 2024, World Children’s Day, a discussion was held in Tashkent regarding reforms aimed at offering alternative justice measures for children instead of imprisonment, with incarceration being considered only as a last resort in Uzbekistan.

The roundtable was initiated by the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ombudsman for Children of the Oliy Majlis, and UNICEF. Representatives from government agencies, civil society institutions, and international organizations participated in the discussion.

It was noted that children’s rights remain one of the most pressing issues today, and this year marks the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As part of constitutional reforms, new progressive norms have been adopted to strengthen guarantees for the protection of children’s rights and interests. The updated Constitution of Uzbekistan reinforces the guarantees for the protection of children’s rights, freedoms, and legal interests, creating the best conditions for their full physical, mental, and cultural development. The state’s obligations in this area have also been expanded.

On 21 February 2024, a joint decision was made to approve the National Action Plan for the implementation of the recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

One of the main sections of this National Action Plan includes actions encouraging the use of alternative measures such as mediation and counseling, as well as non-imprisonment sanctions for children, such as probation or community service.

In her speech, Rehina Kastigio, head of the UNICEF office in Uzbekistan, highlighted the country’s efforts to promote juvenile justice. "As you know, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has called for reforms to protect children from the long-term consequences of criminal proceedings. Research and global experience show that alternatives to imprisonment not only prevent stigmatization and trauma associated with court proceedings but also provide children with the opportunity to reintegrate into society. These measures foster responsibility and rehabilitation, giving children a second chance to thrive in their families and communities," Kastigio noted.

During the roundtable, one of the leading international experts in this field, Renate Winter, an international judge and former chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, also spoke.

Winter noted that Uzbekistan has made positive progress in ensuring children’s rights and interests. "It is now time to promote alternatives to detention for children, but there are no ready-made solutions, and their forms need to be developed. Developing effective alternative measures is one of the greatest challenges we currently face, and this is something we will be working on. As for Uzbekistan, there are alternative measures in place, but they are mostly applied to adults," Winter said.

Following the roundtable, concrete proposals were made to improve the law enforcement practices in the field of child rights protection.