Uzbekistan provides state-funded legal aid to victims of violence

Uzbekistan offers state-funded legal aid to victims of violence

Victims of pressure and violence in Uzbekistan who turn to investigative bodies or courts for help will be eligible for legal assistance paid for by the state under a new law signed on September 11, 2026.

Law No. 1175 introduces amendments intended to improve the social services system for people affected by pressure and violence and will take effect once officially published.

Under the new law, victims of pressure and violence who apply to inquiry or preliminary investigation bodies or to court because of violence may receive legal assistance financed by the state. State-funded legal aid is available to affected women and their minor children in a range of civil and family law cases. These include claims for alimony and additional expenses connected with supporting children, as well as disputes over moving into housing, loss of the right to use housing and eviction.

The assistance also applies to cases involving the establishment of paternity, deprivation of parental rights, determining a child’s place of residence and setting visitation arrangements. Women and children may also receive state-funded legal aid in divorce cases and disputes over the division of property.

The list also includes claims to recover property from unlawful possession, obtain compensation for property damage, seek reinstatement at work and recover unpaid wages.

Women placed in regional rehabilitation and adaptation centers under the National Agency for Social Protection, along with their minor children, will also be exempt from state fees for obtaining duplicate marriage and birth certificates.

The new legal aid measures come alongside other recent steps to strengthen social protection for women and children in Uzbekistan.

From January 1, 2027, Uzbekistan will introduce a childcare benefit for women employed under labor contracts. The benefit will be paid by the State Social Insurance Fund from the end of maternity leave until the child reaches one year of age.

Uzbekistan has also extended the maximum stay for victims of violence in specialized protection centers to six months, while introducing additional legal and administrative support measures for women and their children.