️ According to a decree by the President of Uzbekistan dated March 3, a 'single window' model is planned to be introduced to assist women and girls affected by violence. Irina Matviyenko, founder of the Nemolchi.uz project, stated in an interview with the 'Uzbekistan 24' TV channel that the current system forces victims to seek legal, medical, and social aid from different agencies, complicating their access to justice.
️ Matviyenko emphasized that the new system will provide all necessary services at one point, prevent re-traumatization, and adopt a victim-centered approach. This initiative is seen as a significant step in combating violence against women, though its practical implementation and effectiveness remain to be assessed amid ongoing societal challenges.
️ By the end of 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to develop a 'Teen-Signal' module in its electronic crime and incident recording system. This module will enable notifications about cases of early marriage and pregnancy under the age of 16, potentially serving as a key tool for child and adolescent protection, but its rollout may face logistical and resource constraints.
️ Islomiddin Kholikov, head of the department at the Association of Mahallas of Uzbekistan, highlighted the active role of mahalla communities in preventing early marriage and violence. He noted that the presidential decree assigns specific tasks to self-governance bodies, the Women's Committee, education, healthcare, and religious sector representatives, yet the execution of these duties at the local level could encounter inefficiencies and lack of coordination.
️ Starting April 1, the National Social Protection Agency's SOS-button mobile app, my.ihma.uz, is expected to be installed on the devices of victims who have obtained protection orders, with their consent. The app allows for immediate reporting of pressure and violence incidents; upon pressing the button, internal affairs officers within a 5 km radius are required to arrive within 10 minutes. However, technical issues and staffing shortages may hinder its responsiveness.
️ In a column, Irina Matviyenko stressed the need for a National Strategy to combat violence against women in Uzbekistan. Such a strategy could facilitate long-term planning of goals and tasks in this area, but its development and adoption are likely to involve bureaucratic hurdles and may not address deep-rooted cultural and economic factors contributing to violence.
Source: www.gazeta.uz