Photo: unam.mx
Since the beginning of 2025, Uzbekistan has registered 48,303 cases of harassment and violence against women — an increase of 121 percent compared with the same period last year. This was reported by Malika Kadirkhanova, a member of the Senate Committee on Youth, Women, Culture and Sports, in a request sent to Zulaykho Makhkamova, chair of the Committee on Family and Women.
According to official statistics, the highest numbers were recorded in Tashkent Region — 9,414 cases, Bukhara Region — 5,612, Kashkadarya Region — 5,268, and Andijan Region — 4,808. In the first six months of 2025, 930 women were issued repeated protective orders.
In her request, Senator Kadirkhanova stressed that, despite existing measures and laws, the country is seeing a rise in cases of harassment and violence against women (it can be assumed, however, that the increase in statistics is largely due to the fact that women in Uzbekistan are now more likely to seek help rather than remain silent about the problem — Ed. Fergana). Kadirkhanova asked the Committee on Family and Women to provide explanations regarding efforts to identify the causes, preventive measures, cooperation with other agencies, and the creation of an atmosphere of intolerance toward such violations in mahallas (local communities).
In early August, Supreme Court spokesperson Aziz Abidov said that in the first half of this year, more than 6,000 people in Uzbekistan were prosecuted for domestic violence and sexual harassment. In particular, 4,952 people faced administrative charges under Article 59-2 (“Domestic Violence”); of these, 3,200 were fined and 1,752 arrested. Criminal convictions were handed down in 231 cases, including 65 prison sentences.
For sexual harassment between January and June 2025, 358 people were fined and 628 arrested; in total, 986 offenders were held administratively liable. In addition, 99 people were convicted under Article 141-3 (“Unlawful Disclosure of Information Defaming the Honor and Dignity of a Person”), including 24 sentenced to prison.
According to the press service of the National Agency for Social Protection, in the first half of the year more than 41,000 protective orders were issued to women affected by violence. The Inson social service centers assisted 11,914 women. Primary support rooms provided aid to 4,006 women. Rehabilitation centers admitted 512 women and 709 children, offering them social and psychological support.
