In Uzbekistan, penalties for sexual harassment have been toughened

Uzbekistan has tightened administrative liability for sexual harassment. The amendments provide for increased fines for both a first offense and a repeat offense within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty.

The corresponding law was signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the amendments to Article 41-1 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, sexual harassment is now punishable by a fine ranging from 10 to 15 basic calculation values (BCV) or administrative arrest for up to 10 days. With the current BCV at 440,000 soums, the fine will range from 4.4 million to 6.6 million soums.

For a repeat offense within a year, the fine increases from 5–7 to 15–20 BCV — from 2.2–3.08 million to 6.6–8.8 million soums. In addition, administrative arrest for up to 15 days may be imposed for a repeat offense.

Previously, sexual harassment was punishable by a fine ranging from two to five BCV — from 880,000 to 2.2 million soums — or administrative arrest for up to five days.

Sexual harassment includes single gross or repeated actions of a sexual nature that are unwanted by a person and degrade their honor and dignity. In particular, these include comments about appearance or body shape, gestures, touching, and remarks with sexual undertones.

Earlier, Uzbekistan tightened the punishment for sexual violence against children under 14 years of age — such crimes now carry a sentence of up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment.