A working group met in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on September 29 to discuss a draft law aimed at improving the system for protecting children from all forms of violence, according to the lower house parliament's press service.
Members of the Public Council under the Committee of the Legislative Chamber for the Development of Democratic Institutions and Civil Society, as well as public representatives, participated in the meeting. Participants reviewed the provisions of the draft law, issues of its practical application, existing problems in the field of child protection from violence, and potential solutions. Public delegates also submitted proposals for further improvement of the document.
Gulrukh Agzamova, chairperson of the relevant committee of the Legislative Chamber, noted that the development of this bill is linked to efforts to ensure the protection of children from all types of violence, to tighten responsibility for such acts, and to strengthen legal guarantees.
According to her, the draft law was previously discussed at sessions of parliamentary factions and at a plenary session, where it received conceptual approval during the first reading. Members of the Public Council were invited to the working group to take their opinions and suggestions into account during the document's preparation.
Blogger Shakhnoza Soatova emphasized that work on the project should not be limited only to tightening punishments. In her opinion, further development of the document should pay close attention to mechanisms for preventing violence against children.
Soatova added that public calls for harsher penalties are driven by a desire for justice, but the effectiveness of legal norms also depends on their practical implementation and the inevitable prosecution of offenders.
Public Council member Sattor Rakhmatov called the conceptual approval of the draft law at the first reading an important step. He highlighted the need to assess how effectively the special protective measures provided for in the draft law are implemented in practice. Rakhmatov also stated that protecting children is the duty not only of state bodies but of the entire society.
He proposed paying special attention to the safety of children in educational institutions, including controlling access to school premises and creating a safe educational environment. Furthermore, Rakhmatov stressed the importance of coordinated work among responsible agencies and the involvement of the public alongside measures to strengthen accountability for violence against children.
Following the meeting, the working group will continue to review the submitted proposals and work on improving the provisions of the draft law.
