️ Uzbekistan continues to face a high prevalence of early marriages and cases of underage girls being married off, as highlighted by Nodira Hakimova, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Judicial System Reform. Commenting on the state leader's decree to strengthen the rights of women and children, she noted that while the official marriage age is 18, in practice, there are instances of reducing this age due to various reasons. Hakimova emphasized that these cases often stem from the desires of relatives or pretexts such as the groom's departure abroad.

️ A clear and comprehensive list of circumstances that can serve as grounds for lowering the marriage age is now being established, with proposals to ensure no such grounds are permissible. Hakimova also stressed the need to encourage girls to obtain full higher education, acquire professions, and develop as mature individuals before marrying. The Code of Administrative Responsibility includes penalties for men marrying underage girls, their parents, and those conducting religious ceremonies, but intermediaries were previously exempt; now, sanctions will also apply to citizens who call for, are interested in, or encourage the marriage of underage girls.

️ Proposals have been put forward to provide a second chance for girls who cannot complete their education due to family circumstances or pregnancy, offering them the opportunity to independently master required modules and take exams to finish their studies. Hakimova added that girls who give birth at an early age will receive consistent support from all state bodies. According to Health Minister Asilbek Khudayorov, early marriages and marriages between relatives significantly increase the likelihood of children being born with disabilities, with 155 cases of early marriages among girls aged 15-17 recorded as of October 2025.

️ In Uzbekistan, the marriage age for men and women has been 18 since 2019 (previously 17 for women). In 2016, civil registry authorities registered marriages of 4,233 girls aged 17, with this figure rising to 4,853 in 2017 and 5,123 in 2018. Based on 2021 reports, after the marriage age was raised, the number of marriages among 17-year-old girls sharply decreased by 97% in 2020, totaling 88 cases, indicating the positive impact of legislative changes.

Source: www.gazeta.uz