UNODC Promotes Rule of Law and Criminal Justice in the Education System of Central Asia

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented educational disruption with 1.5 billion students and youth across the planet affected by school closures this year. Helping to build more equal, sustainable and inclusive societies and economies that are more resilient in the face of crisis, UNODC Programme Office in the Kyrgyz Republic in partnership with American University in Central Asia conducted a virtual session entitled “Experience of Central Asia in promoting the rule of law through education at the tertiary level: challenges and way forward” as part of the E4J’s Global Dialogue Series.

Some 26 representing law enforcement, academia and civil society took part in on-line session. Ms. Olena Rodionenko, International Coordinator of UNODC Criminal Justice Programs in Kyrgyzstan provided an overview of the Education for Justice (E4J) Global Programme for the implementation of Doha declaration and encouraged all participants to join the network.

“Universities play a leading role in a rapidly changing global system, which is increasingly driven by new technologies, information exchange, and new ideas, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are the place where young people as the next generations have the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to become the leaders of tomorrow promoting peace, justice and ensuring prosperity for all ", Ms. Rodionenko noted.

The representatives of the key universities in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan shared their successful experience in implementing the E4J university modules in their institutions and apart from lessons learn voiced a number of recommendations how to move forward in adapting learning in the time of Covid-19 to ensure students’ interest and engagement and how to improve the E4J tools and resources further.

“The E4J university modules could be very useful not only in terms of content, but also in terms of the suggested modern teaching methods and the didactic plans. Ready-available and tailored models with lesson plans are great resource for teachers -new-comers”, emphasized Ms. Roza Jamshieva, the head of the "Criminal Law" Faculty of Law of Karaganda State University “.

As one of her recommendations, she suggested including sub-titles to the video lessons in English language and highlighted the need to create an interactive online learning platform with E4J courses and handbooks which will provide all learners, both teachers and students to pass some sessions online and receive certificates upon successful completion.

Ms. Bermet Tursunkulova, Associate Professor, Director of Development, American University of Central Asia together with Kanykei Kasybekova, Assistant Professor, American University of Central Asia talked about their experience in teaching students on cybercrime in Kyrgyzstan based on the E4J module on cybercrime. They particularly underlined a strong students’ interest in the subject which resulted in the students’ initiatives to write their diploma papers on cybercrime related topics.

Ms. Bermet Tursunkulova, Associate Professor, Director of Development, American University of Central Asia during her presentation “Cybersecurity and Society”, emphasized that “cybersecurity now affects all areas of our life. That is why we introduced to our cybersecurity course information from various legal spheres and political science; we used UNODC training modules which were more than a guide for us”.   Ms. Tursunkulova suggested to conduct students’ moot court or essay competitions on the E4J topics.

Participants also had an opportunity to learn about the Tashkent State University of Law’s (TSUL) experience in using the E4J Module on crime prevention and criminal justice that was presented by Ms Dildora Kamalova, Head of the Department Judicial, law enforcement agencies and advocacy at the TSUL.

 

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For more information, please contact Vasilina Brazhko (Mrs.)

UNODC Communication and PR Specialist

WhatsApp: +996775987817

E-mail: vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org