Penalties for marriage involving minors may be sharply increased

Penalties for entering into marriage with minors in Uzbekistan may be significantly increased. This is stipulated in a draft law titled “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aimed at Further Strengthening the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of Women and Children.”

According to the draft, marriages will be prohibited between relatives of the second, third, and fourth degrees on the collateral line, including uncles and aunts with their nieces and nephews, as well as between cousins.

However, an exception is предусмотрено in cases where one of the parties is adopted or a stepchild, provided that the adopted person is not, in fact, a first-, second-, third-, or fourth-degree blood relative of the other party.

The draft also provides that, at the request of individuals wishing to marry, district or city mayors at the place of state registration of marriage may reduce the marriage age by up to one year in cases related to pregnancy or the birth of a child.

In addition, if a person enters into actual marital relations with an individual who has not reached the legal marriage age after having previously been subjected to administrative punishment for the same act, the offense may be punishable by a fine ranging from 50 to 100 times the basic calculation amount (from 20.6 million to 41.2 million soums), or compulsory community service for 240 to 300 hours, or corrective labor for up to two years.

Under current legislation, this offense is punishable by a fine ranging from 20 to 30 times the basic calculation amount (from 8.24 million to 12.36 million soums), or compulsory community service for up to 240 hours, or corrective labor for up to one year.

It should be recalled that earlier reports stated that in Surkhandarya region, a criminal case was opened after a 15-year-old girl was married off. Criminal proceedings were initiated against both the individual who conducted the marriage ceremony in exchange for material benefit and the 28-year-old man who married the minor.