In the first half of 2024, Tajikistan’s Prosecutor’s Office has opened over 3,000 cases for violations of laws related to parental responsibility and children’s upbringing. Among these, 138 cases were identified for obstructing compulsory general education.
Additionally, there were 230 cases involving illegal religious education, which affected 329 individuals, including 177 minors. These figures were disclosed by Yusuf Rakhmon, the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan.
From January to June, 1,100 administrative cases were initiated for breaches of the “Regulation of Traditions, Celebrations, and Rituals” and 3,090 cases for violations of the law concerning parental responsibilities.
Recent changes in the law have increased penalties for such violations. Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses now impose fines up to 100,000 somoni for breaches related to tradition regulations.
The law on child-rearing has also been updated, now known as the “Law on Responsibility for Education and Upbringing of Children.” This updated legislation clarifies key terms such as “education,” “upbringing,” and “persons replacing parents,” thereby defining the responsibilities of parents, teachers, and government agencies more clearly.
New provisions have been added to the law to combat extremism, violence, and discrimination against children. These measures focus on preventing discrimination based on race, nationality, religion, or social status, with special attention given to children with special needs and those in difficult social situations.
Under the latest amendments to Article 90 of the Code of Administrative Violations, fines ranging from 720 to 864 somoni are now imposed if a child’s school absences exceed fifty hours per quarter. For more details on these new rules and penalties, please refer to our detailed article.