LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION SYSTEM

This research article examines the system of child rights protection in Uzbekistan within the framework of international standards, national legislation and practical institutional mechanisms. The aim of the study is to evaluate the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182, and the relevant constitutional and sectoral laws of Uzbekistan; to identify existing gaps; and to propose legal solutions for improving child protection mechanisms. The study adopts comparative legal analysis, normative review, empirical diagnostics and institutional observation of social service providers. The results reveal that despite significant reforms, certain systemic shortcomings persist, including hidden forms of child labour in specific regions, insufficient rehabilitation services for victims of domestic violence, subjective decision-making by guardianship authorities, and inconsistent implementation of the “best interests of the child” principle.