International Journal of Law And Criminology
58
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijlc
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue02 2025
PAGE NO.
58-60
10.37547/ijlc/Volume05Issue02-12
Constitutional reform - legal basis of state youth policy
Eshmuhammad Kadirov
Tashkent State University of Law, Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor of Constitutional Rights Chamber, Uzbekistan
Received:
24 December 2024;
Accepted:
26 January 2025;
Published:
28 February 2025
Abstract:
This article, from the point of view of constitutional doctrine, provides an analysis of constitutional
reforms in New Uzbekistan as an important legal basis for state policy towards youth. Existing scientific and
practical problems are also analyzed, and constitutional and legal mechanisms for their elimination are explored.
Keywords:
Youth, youth state policy, Constitution, constitutional reform, constitutional and legal mechanism,
legal consciousness and legal culture, legal education.
Introduction:
The Constitutional Foundations of the
State Youth Policy in New Uzbekistan: Problems and
Solutions
New Uzbekistan, recognizing its high responsibility
towards the present and future generations, has set
the goal of building a sovereign, democratic, legal,
social, and secular state where human dignity is upheld.
Naturally, paying attention to the organizational and
legal foundations of the state youth policy is
undeniable. Since youth policy, which is considered a
priority direction of state policy, has been
constitutionally enshrined, it is deemed promising. If
we analyze the issue from the perspective of the
mentality of the Uzbek people and the principle that
the Constitution is the highest legal force of the state,
its essence becomes even clearer.
The adoption of the new edition of the Constitution
through a referendum on April 30, 2023, became a
significant historical event for our country. The
constitutional reform in our republic, first of all,
ensures and guarantees human rights and freedoms;
secondly, increases the responsibility of state bodies
and officials; thirdly, expands opportunities for civil
society institutions. The reform of our Basic Law is also
connected with the development of the political and
legal system, as well as the economic, social, and
cultural spheres of our country.
Considering that half of Uzbekistan’s population
consists of youth and that young people play a crucial
role in building New Uzbekistan as a new force, bringing
new ideas, modern knowledge, and innovative
technologies, the constitutional reforms being
implemented have a strong focus on them. From this
perspective, the rights, freedoms, and legitimate
interests of young people have been constitutionally
enshrined. The fact that the state has set the
conceptual goal of ensuring public satisfaction is
directly linked to youth, an important social stratum. In
this regard, it is important to highlight the significance
of the Presidential Decree No. PF-67 of May 8, 2023,
"On Priority Measures for the Implementation of the
New Edition of the Constitution of the Republic of
Uzbekistan."
As our President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized in his
congratulatory address on the 32nd anniversary of our
Constitution: "Continuing reforms rapidly and
implementing the updated norms of our Constitution
into life, we will continue to focus on developing
entrepreneurship, increasing the population's income,
strengthening the atmosphere of mutual respect and
harmony in families and neighborhoods, and providing
comprehensive support for the elderly, women, and
youth."
From a scientific and theoretical perspective, if we
examine the existing problems related to the state's
youth policy, it becomes clear that there are several
issues facing society and the state. These problems
negatively impact the state's "active citizen formation"
concept.
First, there are practical challenges in correctly
understanding the content and significance of our
Constitution. This is evident in the way constitutional
International Journal of Law And Criminology
59
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International Journal of Law And Criminology (ISSN: 2771-2214)
law is taught at various levels of the education system,
including preschools, general education schools,
academic lyceums, colleges, and technical schools.
Unfortunately, constitutional law as a subject is not
adequately taught in all educational institutions by
specialists in the field. Often, the subject is approached
superficially, focusing only on covering the curriculum
rather than ensuring deep comprehension. As a result,
students do not develop an adequate and accurate
understanding of the Constitution. Young people fail to
properly grasp fundamental concepts such as human
rights and duties, the formation and authority of state
power bodies, civil society institutions, and the
harmony of individual, societal, and state interests.
This,
unfortunately,
has
long-term
negative
consequences in their lives. In such a scenario, the
state’s p
rimary goal of fostering legally conscious and
culturally aware individuals is not achieved, and the
expected effectiveness of youth policy is not realized.
Second, in our country, the effective foreign
experiences in teaching youth, especially adolescents,
practical legal knowledge are not fully utilized. Those
that exist are very limited and do not comprehensively
cover all young people. Here, it is necessary to define
the term "adolescent." According to the Pedagogical
Encyclopedia, "an adolescent is a person between
approximately 15 and 18 years old; in pedagogy, this
period is also called 'late school age.' By the end of
adolescence, young people usually reach physical and
psychological maturity." Adolescence is a crucial life
stage when a person is full of energy, driven by limitless
ambitions, immersed in romantic dreams, eager to
demonstrate heroism, and strives for justice according
to their understanding.
In developed countries, projects such as "Street Law"
(practical legal education) are widely used for this
category of youth, producing significant results.
Consequently, many young people abroad grow up
understanding both their rights and responsibilities
equally, forming politically and legally active citizens. In
practical legal education, aspects such as obtaining a
passport, receiving a diploma, entering the labor
market, and applying theoretical knowledge in real-life
situations are emphasized. Unfortunately, our young
people often only become aware of such legal
processes when they face a personal legal issue.
Third, another negative issue among our youth is that
while many of them understand their rights, they are
unaware of their constitutional duties. Human rights
not only grant individuals specific entitlements but also
impose certain obligations. Only when rights and duties
are equally recognized can the legal framework be
complete. Raising awareness among youth about their
responsibilities not only contributes to their legal
awareness but also helps them understand the essence
of jurisprudence. Developing a sense of duty among
young people fosters their responsibility towards their
families, communities, villages or cities, regions, and
ultimately, the nation.
We must instill in our children the ability to make the
right decisions in complex situations. "We should be
able to say to our youth: 'You must know the norms of
our Constitution as well as you know the multiplication
table.'" This idea compels every teacher and mentor to
critically reassess their work. Why? To understand the
importance of this statement, consider this legal
scenario: If you ask seventh-grade students, "What are
your duties to the homeland?" or "What obligations do
you have towards your parents?" you will receive
various responses. However, if you ask, "What is 7 plus
7?" they will confidently and unanimously respond,
"Fourteen!" Why? Because in 7+7=14, clarity is
ensured. But there is no such clarity when it comes to
the question, "What are the duties of Uzbek youth to
their homeland?" Why? Because the legal education
system has not yet prioritized clarity and guarantees in
this area. Therefore, we must urgently rid our legal
education of ambiguity and strive for precision, so that
our children learn at least three of their constitutional
duties in one year, then five the next, and so on
—
until
they know them with the same confidence as
multiplication facts. This precise knowledge will help
them make the right decisions in real-life situations
without hesitation. An increase in youth who equally
understand their constitutional rights and duties will
prevent the formation of indifferent and selfish
individuals in our society.
Fourth, legal education is not regarded as an
inseparable and significant component of social
upbringing. Although numerous legal documents have
been adopted at the state and societal levels to
promote legal education, the individual and familial
aspects of this issue remain unsatisfactory. The failure
of legal education initiatives to reach specific
individuals effectively is evident. Every young person
must understand that legal education yields results
only when it aligns with their personal interests, as well
as those of society and the state.
Moreover, it is high time we abandon the
misconception that legal education is solely the
responsibility of law enforcement agencies and
government officials. Today’s youth are not just passive
members of this social group; they are the active
successors of state and societal governance. One day,
they will transition from being mere citizens to active
participants in governance, meaning the legitimacy and
fairness of state and social governance will largely
depend on them.
International Journal of Law And Criminology
60
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijlc
International Journal of Law And Criminology (ISSN: 2771-2214)
Fifth, the lack of a systematic approach to enhancing
legal awareness and culture among youth remains a
significant issue. The legal culture of young people is
shaped by elements of general culture, such as justice,
responsibility, activism, honor, dignity, and values. It is
the result of their legal-political socialization and
reflects their attitude toward laws, level of legal
literacy, and intolerance of legal violations.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the constitutional foundations of youth
policy in New Uzbekistan lie in the direct inclusion of
youth-related norms in the revised Constitution,
emphasizing the creation of a legally educated and
socially responsible generation.
REFERENCES
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Official
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Order No. PV-67 of the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated May 8, 2023 "As a result of the first
measures to implement the new version of the
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan." National
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The nature of the holiday dedicated to the 32nd
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Education (encyclopedia for parents and teachers).
—
T.: "Uzbekistan National Encyclopedia" state scientific
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—
pp. 504-506.
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
dated January 9, 2019 No. F-5618 "Producing a
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Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. - T.:
"Uzbekistan", 2019. - pp. 16-17.
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Official
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