4-year-old girl allegedly abused by relative in Bukhara

A resident of the Bukhara region contacted QALAMPIR.UZ with claims that her 4-year-old niece was regularly subjected to verbal abuse, torture, and physical violence by her maternal relatives. She alleged that a cousin, identified as K.A., born in 2011, committed unnatural acts against the child.

According to the complainant, the abuse occurred between October and December 2024. Beginning January 4, 2025, the girl's paternal relatives sought medical and psychological assistance for her and began contacting law enforcement agencies. However, the Bukhara city prosecutor’s office reportedly closed the case immediately after receiving the complaints, without launching any formal investigation.

“Unsatisfied with this outcome, we appealed to the Children’s Ombudsman and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic. They issued an official letter instructing the Bukhara city prosecutor’s office to reopen the case after a full review. However, the office closed the case for a second time. This has deeply frustrated us, as the mental and physical well-being of innocent children is being ignored,” the applicant stated.

To verify the situation, QALAMPIR.UZ contacted Surayo Rakhmonova, the Representative of the Oliy Majlis for Children’s Rights (Ombudsman for Children). According to Rakhmonova, a citizen identified as A.N. submitted a complaint stating that law enforcement had failed to take legal action against the individual who physically assaulted and injured his minor child, M.A. In response, the Children’s Ombudsman sent an official request to the Prosecutor General’s Office to ensure the child’s interests were protected.

The Bukhara Regional Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the matter and, on April 1, annulled the previous decision to deny opening a criminal case. A formal investigation is now underway.

Citizen A.N. has been informed of his rights to participate in the case as the legal representative of the child, as well as of other procedural rights.

“The Children’s Ombudsman will continue to monitor the case,” said Surayyo Rakhmonova.

It is worth recalling that in 2024, the World Health Organization reported that one billion children worldwide are exposed to violence each year.