New administrative penalties have been introduced for violence against children in educational and childcare settings, under a law signed by the president on September 11. The bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber on December 23, 2025, and approved by the Senate on July 9 of this year.
Article 47 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (Failure to perform duties related to raising and educating children) has been amended to add the following provision: a person responsible for raising and teaching minors in an educational institution who commits physical violence in the course of their duties, or subjects children to abuse such as humiliation or insults — provided the conduct does not meet the threshold of a criminal offense or other violation — will face a fine of one to five base calculation units (440,000 to 2.2 million soums).
One-year ban on working with children
Individuals held administratively liable for physical or psychological violence against minors while carrying out teaching duties will now be barred from working in education for one year.
Under an amendment to Article 15 (Restrictions on engaging in teaching activities) of the Educator Status Law, the ban applies to staff at the following types of institutions:
- preschool institutions;
- general secondary and specialized secondary schools;
- vocational education institutions;
- extracurricular child education centers.
A corresponding amendment covering preschool staff has also been made to Article 44 of the Preschool Education and Upbringing Law.
Reports of violence against children in kindergartens and schools surface regularly. One recent case emerged in Andijan province, where children with disabilities were beaten at the Gamxo'rlik ("Care") center. Six caregivers and a nurse were dismissed as a result.
In autumn 2024, the president signed the Law on Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence, which bans the use of any form of violence — including corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading treatment — as disciplinary measures in educational institutions.
In summer 2025, the National Agency for Social Protection said it was drafting amendments to the Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure to toughen penalties for violence against children, with officials describing plans for "maximum liability with no mitigating circumstances."
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