Tashkent to Host Inaugural Meeting of Central Asia Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: Scheduled for May 14th, the inaugural gathering of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from armed conflict zones is set to convene in Tashkent, as reported by media outlets. The establishment of this council stems from the visionary initiative put forth by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during the high-level conference “Regional cooperation of the countries of Central Asia under the Joint Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy” in March 2022 in Tashkent. This initiative has garnered robust support from international partners.
Organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS), the State Security Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Committee the Family and Women under the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, alongside key international entities such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, this landmark event signifies a collaborative effort towards addressing pressing regional challenges.
The inaugural meeting in Tashkent will witness the participation of high-level representatives from Central Asian states, international organizations including the UN and the OSCE, and specialists in the realm of rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from conflict zones, with a focus on matters pertaining to legal accountability.
The opening ceremony is expected to feature esteemed speakers including Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UNOCT Vladimir Voronkov, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the UNRCCA Kaha Imnadze, Acting Executive Director of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate Weixiong Chen, and the OSCE Coordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats Alena Kupchyna, alongside heads of delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Additionally, senior management representatives from a plethora of international and regional organizations, including the CIS Anti-Terrorism Centre, the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, the CICA Secretariat, the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, the CSTO, and various UN entities such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, have been extended invitations to participate in this significant event.
The gathering will serve as a pivotal platform for sharing experiences among Central Asian countries in the repatriation of their citizens from conflict zones, institutionalizing mechanisms, and enhancing regional cooperation to address this critical issue. It underscores the region’s commitment to collective responsibility for fostering peace and security.
Furthermore, the event will feature two breakout sessions focusing on implementing comprehensive approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration, as well as enhancing the role of local communities and civil society organizations in ensuring holistic societal engagement in this domain.
