The punishment for human trafficking has been significantly increased: a new law has come into effect

In Uzbekistan, significant changes have been made to criminal liability in order to further strengthen the fight against human trafficking. According to the law signed by the President on May 19, 2024, serious amendments have been made to Article 135 of the Criminal Code (human trafficking).

According to the new regulations, if human trafficking is carried out by using forged documents, hiding, seizing, or destroying the victim's personal documents, the guilty person will be deprived of liberty for 5 to 10 years. Previously, a prison sentence of 5 to 8 years was prescribed for such cases.

The law also covers another important aspect: if the crime results in the death of the victim or other serious consequences, the guilty person will face a penalty of 10 to 15 years of imprisonment. Previously, a prison sentence of 8 to 12 years was prescribed for such cases.

The law came into force on the day it was officially announced after being adopted by the Legislative Chamber on September 17, 2024, approved by the Senate on December 21, and signed by the President on May 19.

The editorial team of Zamin.uz will continue to cover updates on the improvement of legal mechanisms in the fight against human trafficking. Do you think these strict measures will serve as a barrier to serious crimes like human trafficking?