UNODC-supported expert workshop focuses on strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice teaching

November 2020 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) joined with Tashkent State University of Law (TSUL) and The Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to host online Expert Workshop for University Lecturers and Trainers, who teach Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

This workshop builds on the work that UNODC has undertaken in developing a broad range of teaching materials, for use by educators at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Implemented under the Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, the Education for Justice (E4J) initiative aims to build a culture of lawfulness among children and youth through the provision of age-appropriate educational materials on topics related to criminal justice, crime prevention and the rule of law. At the tertiary level, E4J has partnered with hundreds of academics to develop a broad range of university modules, on the themes of crime prevention and criminal justice, organized crime, trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling counter-terrorism, cybercrime, anti-corruption firearms, and wildlife crime. All modules are available on the E4J website in English, and many have been translated into Russian.

The online workshop, held on 26 November, brought together more than 30 university lecturers and trainers from CIS countries, to discuss practical strategies for teaching the E4J University Module series on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The session included opening remarks by Mr. Uygun Nigmadjanov, Deputy Head of Academy of General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Mr. Koen Marquering, International Coordinator –Criminal Justice, Crime Prevention and Integrity, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia, who spoke about the value of the E4J initiative, in realizing the internationally agreed priorities outlined in the 2015 Doha Declaration.

Elaborating on practical strategies for introducing the E4J Modules in the classroom, Dr. Wendy O’Brien, Legal Officer, UNODC, and Dr. Garner Clancey, Associate Professor of the Sydney University Law School, Australia shared insights based on their experience of developing and teaching the E4J Module on crime prevention.

Workshop participants were introduced to presentations by several academics from Central Asia. Dr. Kamalova Dildora Gayratonva, Head of the Department of Criminal Justice Enforcement Agencies and Advocacy, TSUL, provided an engaging overview of her work in teaching Module 8, on Restorative Justice. This was followed by a presentation on the practical application of the E4J modules both in the classroom, and in training for law enforcement professionals. This expert presentation was delivered by Dr. Marufjon Kurbanov, Head of the Department of Criminalistics and Forensic Science, TSUL, who shared interesting and replicable insights from his teaching practice. Another presentation was delivered by Dr. Roza Zhamiyeva, Head of the Department of Criminal Trial and Forensic Science, Academician E. A. Buketov Karaganda State University, Kazakhstan. In this session, workshop participants were inspired to hear about practical strategies to incorporate modules from each of the nine E4J themes into their teaching. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for academics to come together to share information about effective approaches to teaching the E4J Modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with the shared aim of strengthening teaching, globally, on human rights, justice and the rule of law.

 

Эта статья на русском.

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Vasilina Brazhko

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