23 October 2026, Tashkent. A seminar dedicated to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) was held at the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. During the event, international standards for protecting children from sexual violence, issues related to improving national mechanisms for preventing such crimes, as well as the legal and institutional aspects of Uzbekistan’s possible accession to this international treaty were discussed.
The seminar was organized by the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights jointly with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Children's Rights (Children's Ombudsman), in cooperation with the Council of Europe and UNICEF in Uzbekistan.
The event was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Agency for Social Protection, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Uzbekistan, healthcare, employment and poverty reduction, as well as representatives of the legal community and relevant educational institutions.
The main objective of the seminar was to familiarize participants with the key provisions of the Lanzarote Convention and international standards for preventing sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, as well as to discuss the necessary legal, institutional and procedural conditions for Uzbekistan's possible accession to the Convention.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Orzigul Kozixonova, Chairperson of the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Youth, Women, Culture and Sports; Surayyo Raxmonova, Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Children's Rights (Children's Ombudsman); Dilnoza Muratova, Deputy Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights; and Antonia Luedeke, Head of the Child Protection Programme at UNICEF in Uzbekistan.
The protection of children's rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, ensuring their safety and preventing all forms of violence against minors are among the priority areas of state policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In recent years, the country has consistently improved its national legislation, strengthened institutional mechanisms for the protection of children, taken measures to prevent violence and expanded international cooperation in this field.
In particular, the Action Plan for 2026–2027 on the Implementation of the Strategy for the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence, approved by Decree No. UP-256 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 24 December 2025, provides for the study of the Lanzarote Convention.
The Lanzarote Convention is one of the key international legal instruments in the field of protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. It provides for a comprehensive approach encompassing crime prevention, protection and support for child victims, criminal prosecution of perpetrators, as well as the strengthening of national mechanisms and international cooperation.
As part of the main programme of the seminar, Dilnoza Rakhmatjonova, Leading Specialist of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, delivered a presentation entitled “Uzbekistan's Accession to International Human Rights Instruments Concerning Children's Rights: Achievements and Future Prospects.”
Ekaterina Malareva, Legal Adviser at the Secretariat of the Council of Europe's Lanzarote Convention, provided an overview of the main provisions of the Convention and the activities of the Lanzarote Committee, focusing on international standards and practical mechanisms for protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
During the thematic sessions, participants examined issues of criminal law responses to offences against the sexual inviolability of children, including measures concerning persons who have committed such offences and approaches to their rehabilitation. Particular attention was paid to organizing child-sensitive judicial proceedings that take into account the age, interests and needs of the child, ensuring victims' access to necessary assistance and support, as well as measures to prevent sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of minors.
A separate part of the discussions was devoted to coordinating the activities of competent state authorities, developing international cooperation in the field of child protection, procedures for states' accession to the Lanzarote Convention and the practical benefits of participation in it.
Participants examined the legal and institutional conditions necessary to ensure that the national child protection system complies with the provisions of the Convention. In particular, attention was given to interagency cooperation and law enforcement practice, as well as identifying areas for further improvement of national child protection mechanisms.
The discussions also addressed initial preparatory measures for Uzbekistan's possible accession to the international treaty, as well as further steps to strengthen the system for preventing sexual violence against children, protecting victims and ensuring accountability for the relevant crimes.
Following the seminar, recommendations are expected to be developed to improve national legislation and its application in practice.
The seminar provided a platform for professional dialogue among state authorities, national experts and international partners. The exchange of experience and discussion of international standards are intended to contribute to strengthening interagency cooperation, developing a comprehensive approach to preventing violence against children and further improving the national system for protecting their rights.
The seminar marked an important step in studying international standards for the protection of children and identifying prospects for further strengthening national mechanisms to ensure their rights, safety and best interests.
Press Service of the National Center of the
Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights