Uzbekistan’s Domestic Violence Reforms: Progress Remains Slow
Three years after Uzbekistan criminalized domestic violence, progress in protecting women remains too slow, according to recent reports. As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, calls are growing for the government to recommit to enforcing laws and ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence.
Legal Reforms and Implementation Gaps
In 2023, Uzbekistan took a significant step by criminalizing domestic violence, introducing penalties for sexual harassment and stalking, and establishing administrative and criminal liability for domestic violence offenses, including fines and detention. Harsher punishments are in place for repeat or severe offenses. Further progress was made in February 2025 with the removal of mandatory court-imposed reconciliation periods in divorce cases involving domestic violence, a practice that previously forced some women to remain in abusive relationships.
Despite these legal advancements, a December 2025 report by the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) highlighted serious gaps in implementation. These include the continued utilize of reconciliation in domestic violence cases, restricted access to shelters, services, and legal aid, and ongoing social stigma faced by survivors. Geographic disparities in service availability and insufficiently trained officials also pose challenges.
Reconciliation Procedures and Access to Justice
A 2024 study conducted by civil society organizations and the United Nations Development Programme revealed concerning statistics. Over 55 percent of domestic violence cases were dismissed through reconciliation procedures since the law came into effect in April 2023. More than 90 percent of victims lacked legal representation.
According to Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court, over 10,000 individuals were prosecuted for domestic violence in the first ten months of 2025 alone. However, the focus on reconciliation rather than prosecution of perpetrators continues to hinder access to justice for survivors.
New State Program and Future Steps
In February 2026, the Uzbek government approved a new state program aimed at strengthening penalties for violence against women and children, improving enforcement, expanding support services, and introducing measurable benchmarks.
Advocates emphasize the need to end the routine dismissal of cases through reconciliation, ensure consistent enforcement of legal protections, expand survivor-centered services, and address the surrounding stigma. Gender-based violence survivors require Uzbekistan to translate legal reforms into real safety and justice without further delay.