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The anti-violence project “Nemolchi.uz” has presented alarming statistics. According to the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, in the first eight months of 2024, 1,156 people were convicted under the article “Sexual Harassment.” This is almost 75% more compared to the same period last year, when 666 people were convicted. These numbers are concerning, especially considering that most offenders receive only small fines or administrative arrests of up to five days.
Out of the convicted individuals, 753 people were punished with administrative arrest. The remaining 403 individuals were ordered to pay fines totaling 413.5 million soums, which is nearly double the amount of fines imposed for such violations last year (214.5 million soums). This sharp increase in both the number of convictions and the amount of fines demonstrates the government’s efforts to combat sexual harassment. However, the question arises: are these measures sufficient?
Article 41-1 (Sexual Harassment) of the Administrative Code was introduced into Uzbekistan’s legislation in April 2023. It provides for administrative liability for sexual harassment, with fines ranging from 2 to 5 base calculation units (from 750,000 to 1.8 million soums) or administrative arrest for up to 5 days. In the event of repeated offenses within a year, the fine increases to 5–7 base units, and the arrest period can be extended to 15 days.
The adequacy of such punishments for sexual harassment raises questions. A five-day arrest or fines paid to the state budget may seem insufficient to many for deterring such behavior. Additionally, the issue of fairness remains open, especially considering that the victims themselves do not receive any financial compensation.
On the one hand, the introduction of Article 41-1 shows that the issue of sexual harassment is being recognized and addressed in the country. But many are wondering: will these measures be enough to prevent such crimes in the future? Can a few days of arrest or relatively small fines truly serve as an effective deterrent?
What do you think: are these measures enough to protect victims and eradicate such violations?
The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article
