Justice in Practice: UWED Hosts a Master Class on Sentencing

On 6 November 2026, the Faculty of International Law of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy held a master class for second-year students in Criminal Law. The session focused on “Sentencing: Principles, Criteria and Judicial Practice.”

The master class was delivered by Bobur Ibratovich Otoboev, a practising attorney, lecturer at Tashkent State University of Law and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law. The event was organised under the supervision of Naubakhar Bakhadyrovna Uzakbaeva, lecturer at the Department of International Law and Public Law Disciplines of UWED.

The speaker explained how the general principles of sentencing are applied in real court practice. He described how courts take into account the nature and degree of public danger of an offence, the personality of the offender, and mitigating and aggravating circumstances. He paid particular attention to the principles of fairness, humanism and individualisation of punishment, and to the defence lawyer’s role in securing a proportionate sentence. Drawing on examples from his own practice, Mr Otoboev showed how the defence’s legal position and well-built arguments shape the court’s final decision.

In the second part of the session, students worked through practical cases. They acted as defence and prosecution, justified their choice of the type and length of punishment, and argued their positions on contested scenarios. This format linked the theory of the General Part of Criminal Law with the professional skills that future international lawyers need.

The master class is directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,” in particular Target 16.3: promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. Fair, well-reasoned and proportionate sentencing is a key indicator of public trust in the judiciary. Understanding these mechanisms builds students’ respect for human rights and the principle of legality.

The event also contributes to SDG 4 “Quality Education.” Involving practising professionals in teaching develops students’ practical competencies and critical thinking and strengthens the link between academic education and the professional world.

At the end of the session, students asked the speaker about the legal profession, defence ethics and the future of criminal justice in Uzbekistan. The Department of International Law and Public Law Disciplines thanks Bobur Ibratovich Otoboev for an engaging, practice-oriented master class. The Department plans to continue involving leading practitioners in the teaching process.