The committee on democratic institutes, nongovernmental organizations and self-governing bodies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held a roundtable titled “Legal guarantees of family as main call of society: factors of improving of its well-being” on 7 February 2012. MPs of Legislative Chamber, representatives of Justice Ministry, Healthcare Ministry, Higher and Secondary Special Education Ministry, Women’s Committee, Mahalla Foundation, Kamolot Public Youth Movement, NGOs, scholars and others participated at the event. It was noted that ensuring family rights and improving their well-being is one of priorities of Uzbekistan and the country created all necessary conditions for this. The participants underlined that that a group of MPs proposed to introduce changes to Family Code of Uzbekistan and raise marriage age up to 18 both for men and women. It is also planned to amend article 160 of Family Code, which will allow to adopt children if their parents do not live together for over a year and do not participate in upbringing of children. This will allow to strengthen protection of children and eliminate shortages in children adoption. At the meeting the participants discussed issues of improving existing legislation and adopted recommendations. (Source: UzDaily.com)