Violence against children as a disciplinary punishment in educational institutions was prohibited by law

On November 14, 2024, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Law "On the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence." It clearly defined the types of violence. Xalqtaliminfo.uz presents a brief overview of the law.

Any forms of violence were prohibited in educational institutions

Educational institutions prohibited the use of any forms of violence as disciplinary sanctions, including physical punishments and other cruel or degrading treatment or punishment.

In educational institutions, programs and mechanisms will be introduced to prevent violence against children and among children, including stalking (bullying), as well as to take appropriate measures on the facts of the use of violence. Such measures are included in the internal regulations, charters and work plans of the educational institution.

Educational institutions appoint individuals responsible for the prevention of child abuse.

In order to protect children from violence, the management of the educational institution is obliged to take measures to eliminate the causes and conditions that contribute to the commission of violence against children, to form non-violent relations based on respect for human rights and dignity in the educational institution, to organize and ensure a safe and positive psychological environment.

In order to protect children from violence, educational institution employees are obliged to strictly comply with the internal procedures of the educational institution, the rules of pedagogical ethics when communicating with students, parents (persons replacing them), members of the pedagogical team, ensure equal treatment of all students, assess and improve the psychological environment in the classroom, conduct interviews with students and ensure close cooperation with psychologists and psychological inspectors to provide advice to parents (persons replacing them).

What action or inaction constitutes child abuse?

Types of child abuse

Physical abuse is the infliction of bodily harm to children of varying severity, leaving them in danger, and failure to provide assistance to children in a situation that threatens their lives and health.

Sexual violence is an attack on a child's sexual immunity through acts of a sexual nature, including:

• humiliation;

• Sexual satisfaction in an unnatural way with the use of violence;

• coercion to have sexual intercourse;

• Sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16;

• involvement of a minor as an perpetrator of acts of a pornographic nature;

• engaging in prostitution, organizing brothels with the involvement of a minor or committing obscene acts against him;

• committing acts of a sexual nature by deception or abuse of trust, or by exploiting the child's vulnerability;

• sexual harassment, as well as any other sexual acts of a sexual nature prohibited by law.

Mental abuse is a form of violence expressed in insults, slander, threats against children, humiliation of their honor and dignity, humiliation, as well as other actions aimed at limiting the basic needs of children, including actions (inaction) that cause the victim to be concerned about their safety, become unable to defend themselves, or harm their mental health.

Neglect is a violation of the child's health, physical, mental and moral development by parents (such as those replacing them or caring for them), who have the necessary capabilities, knowledge and skills, including the possibility of access to relevant services (state, medical, educational, social and other services).

The main needs of the child are the provision of food, housing, and other necessary conditions for the child's full development, physical and mental health, safety, education, establishing social connections, developing life skills, and creating conditions for the realization of opportunities.

Child exploitation is the exploitation of a child for economic, sexual and other purposes, including trafficking in persons, involvement in antisocial behaviour and begging, sexual exploitation, as well as coercion into marriage or cohabitation, encouragement to obtain a certain religious education, physical or psychological exposure to coercion in any form.

Bullying is the use of abusive nicknames by a group of children or one child against another child or children, refusing any contact with them, confiscating and harming their property, publicly discussing their physical, mental or intellectual characteristics, humiliating their honor and dignity, or harming their health and life, including through prolonged psychological and physical aggression, carried out over the Internet.

A round-the-clock hotline will be established for victims of violence

In order to ensure the prevention of cases of violence against children, a 24/7 toll-free telephone line (hotline) shall be maintained throughout the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The telephone line network (hotline) operates in strict confidentiality. Disclosure of information received by the hotline is not allowed.

Protection order

A protection order is a document that protects victims of violence and is issued by internal affairs bodies. A protection order is issued for a period of up to thirty days within 24 hours from the moment of the detection of a fact of violence or threat of its commission, based on an assessment of the level of danger, and enters into force from the moment of its registration.

Removal of a child from a parent

When a child is seized, the authorized state body is obliged to immediately notify the prosecutor, ensure the temporary placement of the child and, within seven days after the adoption of the document on the seizure of the child by the self-government body of citizens, file a lawsuit with the court regarding the restriction of parental rights.

When a child is taken from his parents (one of them) or other persons who took him into their care, he can be placed in the following places (in order of priority of placement):

• one of the parents, who can create conditions in accordance with the interests of the child;

• relatives of the child;

• to a person who has expressed a desire to provide care for the child;

• to persons registered with the authorized state body;

• medical institution (if there are problems with the child's health);

• specialized institutions for victims of violence.

If the child cannot be placed in a family, placement in a specialized institution is the last resort.

Persons guilty of violating the legislation on the protection of children from all forms of violence are liable in the prescribed manner.