On 10 May, the president of Uzbekistan signed a decree outlining social services for individuals who have experienced harassment and violence.
Starting 1 June, victims of harassment and violence will receive social and legal support from the Inson social service centers without requiring a protection order.
Incidents of harassment and violence against women will be registered by law enforcement upon receiving calls to the emergency hotline “102”.
Within 24 hours of identifying a case of harassment or violence or a threat thereof, the following actions must be taken:
- The perpetrator will be interviewed in the presence of a women’s rights activist and a community prevention officer.
- A protection order will be issued for the victim by the prevention officer.
- Women and their minor children who have suffered harassment and violence will be accommodated in emergency rooms at central hospitals.
- Completed protection orders and victim information will be transmitted to the Inson centers via the Unified National Social Protection system in real time.
To offer primary medical care to individuals experiencing harassment and psychological distress, 24-hour primary care rooms will be established in emergency departments:
- Beginning June 1, 2024: Jizzakh, Navoi, and Khorezm regions.
- Starting October 1, 2024: All other regions across Uzbekistan.
These primary care rooms within emergency departments will accommodate women who have encountered harassment, violence, or attempted self-harm, along with their minor children, aiming to enhance their physical and mental well-being for a maximum of three days.
Here, they will receive emergency first aid, including psychological and psychotherapeutic treatment, and undergo testing for infectious diseases.
To provide rehabilitation services for women affected by harassment and violence, temporary shelters are being arranged in the regional centers of the Republican Centre for Rehabilitation and Adaptation of Women. Additionally, 14 inter-district model centers, subordinate to the regional centers, are being disbanded and fully integrated into the regional centers.
Victims assisted in the primary care rooms of emergency reception departments are transferred to regional centers based on the doctor’s recommendation and a protection order, as per the social services contract, without requiring an application.
For a period of six months, social workers, women’s rights activists, and prevention officers monitor the socialization level of harassment and violence victims.
As for work with persons who have committed or are inclined to commit harassment and violence: National Guard psychology inspectors are also involved in correctional work to change violent behavior.
Effective 1 October, every instance of issuing a protection order will necessitate the approval of a corrective program for individuals inclined to engage in harassment and violence, in coordination with the Inson Centers.
Effective 1 January 2025, law enforcement will maintain a registry of individuals prone to harassment and violence.
Effective 1 December 2024, law enforcement will proactively issue protection orders in cases of harassment and violence upon receiving two or more complaints within a calendar year.
The decree grants Inson Centers additional rights:
- Provision of social services to victims of harassment and violence.
- Ability to request the issuance of protection orders for female victims of harassment and violence from internal affairs authorities.
- Oversight of the implementation of individual social rehabilitation programs for female victims of harassment and violence during their stay in regional centers.
- Submission, if necessary, of employment requests for female victims of harassment and violence to district and city employment and poverty reduction departments, provided they possess relevant knowledge and skills.
The decree also approved a program for the rehabilitation of victims of violence and harassment.
