Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – During a session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the conceptual discussion took place regarding the draft law "On providing psychological assistance to the population," developed by a group of deputies within the framework of legislative initiative.

The draft law envisages legal regulation of providing psychological assistance in Uzbekistan, including the definition of basic concepts, principles, tasks, types, forms, and standards of providing psychological assistance to the population.

According to the project, standards for psychological assistance will be developed and approved by the Ministry of Health. The head of the organization providing psychological assistance must have higher education in psychology.

The draft law also defines the rights and duties of participants in the field of psychological assistance, specifies categories of persons entitled to free psychological assistance, and creates a legal framework for the activities of professional associations in this field.

The document includes measures of administrative responsibility for providing psychological assistance in educational institutions, conducting research and scientific experiments without appropriate permission, as well as for providing psychological assistance by unauthorized persons. 

The Code of Administrative Responsibility is supplemented with norms establishing fines for violations of the procedure for providing psychological assistance: from five to ten base calculation amounts for citizens and from ten to fifteen base calculation amounts for officials.

Cases related to violations of legislation on providing psychological assistance will be considered by criminal courts.

The adoption of this draft law aims to create a legal basis for providing psychological assistance to the population, satisfy citizens' needs for psychological assistance, and ensure the legal activities of psychologists engaged in private practice.

The draft law was approved by deputies in the first reading.