Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During the 55th plenary session, the Senate reviewed and approved the "Law on Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence."

In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of violence against children, necessitating more effective legal mechanisms for prevention and protection of the rights and legitimate interests of victims. According to statistics, over the past three years, more than 2,000 individuals have been deprived of parental rights by court decisions, with 86% of them being held accountable for failing to fulfill their parental duties.

The law regulates legal relations in the sphere of protecting children from all forms of violence. Specifically, victims of violence can appeal to authorized bodies or the court and receive free legal, economic, social, psychological, and medical assistance at specialized centers or through a free hotline.

For the first time, the law introduces the institution of a protective order for children who have suffered violence. This order is issued by law enforcement agencies for up to 30 days and is delivered to the victim or their legal representative with the involvement of an authorized state body. If the threat is not eliminated, the protective order’s validity can be extended by the court for up to one year.

Additionally, the law enshrines the right of victims to seek compensation for material damage and moral harm.

The law clearly defines the main directions of state policy in the field of protecting children from violence and outlines the powers of state bodies and organizations responsible for this activity. The National Social Protection Agency is tasked with identifying children who have suffered from or are at risk of violence, maintaining their records, and taking individual measures to prevent violence.

The law also increases parental responsibility by requiring them to care for their children’s lives and health, protect them from harmful information, and prohibits physical punishment in the process of upbringing.

During the discussion, it was noted that the adoption of this law contributes to the improvement of the legal framework for protecting children’s rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests, fostering intolerance towards violence, and ensuring the inevitability of punishment for the perpetrators.

The law was approved by the senators.