LocationsSummer School on “Provision of free legal aid to survivors of cyber violence” for the law students of the legal clinics of Uzbekistan
August 8, 2025
Photo: UNDP Uzbekiston
Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan — Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a four-day summer school on “Provision of Free Legal Aid to Victims of Cyber Violence,” bringing together more than thirty students from legal clinics across Uzbekistan. The initiative is designed to deepen students’ understanding of cyber violence as a growing form of gender-based violence and equip them with the legal knowledge and practical tools needed to address the complex challenges it presents.
Despite the increasing reliance on digital spaces as essential platforms for education, work, and communication, women and girls remain disproportionately vulnerable to online abuse — a reality not yet fully reflected in Uzbekistan’s legal framework. A 2023 analysis by the NGO Madad revealed that 41% of defamation cases prosecuted nationwide were linked to social media platforms, underscoring the urgency of preparing legal professionals who can address technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF GBV).
Opening the event, Mr. Anas Fayyad Qarman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan, stressed the importance of addressing the legal and human rights implications of online harm:
“Technology has profoundly reshaped our lives, opening access to health, education, and economic participation — but it has also introduced serious risks, including cyber fraud and cyberbullying. Cyber violence is a growing threat that deeply impacts survivors, often leaving them without the protection they urgently need. This is why your engagement in this summer school is so important."
The training is conducted by leading experts from the Latvian organization Marta, known for its expertise in supporting women and children affected by violence. Through interactive exercises, role plays, real-life case simulations, and sessions on digital evidence, trauma-informed communication, and legal procedures, students will be equipped with practical skills to support survivors of cyber violence through free legal aid.
Mr. Otabek Narziev, Head of the Legal Clinic at Tashkent State University of Law, welcomed the initiative:
“Our legal-clinic network serves as a bridge between academic learning and real-world legal practice. This summer school provides students with cutting-edge tools to uphold human rights in the evolving digital landscape.”
By the end of the programme on August 8, participants are expected to demonstrate improved ability to recognize different forms of cyber violence, communicate effectively and empathetically with survivors, identify appropriate support pathways, and provide primary and secondary legal aid based on existing national legislation. The summer school is organized under the UNDP project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan”, implemented in partnership with national stakeholders and generously funded by the Government of Finland
