Uzbek Parliament passes a law amending the Criminal and Administrative Codes
Tashkent
The deputies of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan have passed a law amending the Criminal and Administrative Codes.
The new version of the law revises the articles related to incitement of religious enmity. Deputies noted that the current articles are formulated in a declarative manner and do not allow for a legal assessment and qualification of actions, Nova24.uz reports.
Deputies also raised the issue of cases of propagating gender inequality through media and social networks. Such a situation is considered indirect discrimination based on gender according to the Law “On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men.”
This situation hinders Uzbekistan from fully fulfilling its international obligations. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) stipulates that states parties are obligated to establish by law specific measures of responsibility for such actions.
The Constitution stipulates that the rights and freedoms of individuals can be restricted only in accordance with the law and only to the extent necessary to protect the constitutional system, public health, public morality, rights and freedoms of other individuals, public safety, and public order.
Deputies have passed amendments that introduce liability for propagating the superiority or inferiority of citizens based on their national, racial, ethnic, or religious affiliation.
Administrative liability will also be introduced for propagating cohabitation with two or more wives and for openly denying equal rights for women and men.
Earlier reports suggested that Uzbekistan might prohibit religious marriages without registration in the Civil Registry Office (ZAGS), and the number of single mothers has been on the rise in the country.
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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on September 5, 2023)
