PROSPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN IN COMBATING CYBERCRIME AGAINST CHILDREN

Abstract

This article examines the organizational and legal mechanisms for strengthening international cooperation in combating cybercrimes committed against children. The research focuses on the interaction between Uzbekistan’s national legal framework and international standards on children’s rights, cybercrime, digital evidence and cross-border cooperation. The study applies normative-legal, comparative-legal, systematic and empirical methods. An expert-oriented survey of 47 respondents conducted through Google Forms in November 2025 is used to assess practical perceptions of existing legal gaps. The findings show that most respondents consider the current national framework insufficient for addressing cybercrimes against children, especially because of the lack of precise legal definitions, difficulties in collecting digital evidence, limited cooperation with foreign technology platforms and the absence of specialized procedural tools. The article argues that criminalization alone is not enough: Uzbekistan needs an integrated model combining substantive criminal law reform, a 24/7 contact point, faster preservation of electronic evidence, binding cooperation duties for technology companies and preventive measures in schools and families. The conclusions may be used in legislative drafting, law-enforcement practice and child protection policy.