UNODC-supported Training Promotes Reintegration of Kazakh Children Who Have Been Returned from Conflict Zones

 

From 29 November to 3 December 2021, UNODC partnered with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan to organize a Training of Trainers (ToT) for some 55 Kazakh professionals working to support the reintegration of children who have been returned from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

 

In his opening remarks at the event, Mr. Naweed Riaz, Head of the UNODC Program Office in Kazakhstan highlighted: “Many of these children have experienced some form of violence, neglect, hardship or trauma. They require both immediate and long-term assistance, including legal aid and psychosocial support. If they are to overcome the trauma of their experience and assume full and meaningful lives within their communities, such support should be carefully tailored to their individual circumstances.”

This TOT workshop was a steppingstone in supporting the effective implementation of the Rules and Terms of Social Rehabilitation of Children Affected by Terrorist Activities adopted by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2020. Case managers, teacher-psychologists and social workers from the Ministry of Education and Science worked together for four days to develop the content of a training curriculum that will help standardise the provision of psychosocial services across the country.

The main topics covered by this training curriculum are related to psychological consequences of living in conflict zones, assessing the needs of children, stigmatization risks returned children face, working with parents, building trust and communication, as well as diverse phases of comprehensive strategies and individual reintegration plans, including monitoring and evaluation. The new curriculum will serve to train other teachers and psychologists working with children returnees from conflict zones.

Training participants emphasised the importance of bringing together case managers and psychologists to foster a consultative process for the implementation of the Rules and Terms of Social Rehabilitation of Children Affected by Terrorist Activities and improve coordination mechanisms.    

Since 2019, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been facilitating the return of its citizens. Returning children from conflict zones involves significant operational challenges for the State and requires long-term commitment to reintegrate them into society. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has legally recognized these children as victims of terrorism and has been translating this concept into action by providing support and services to overcome the harm and violence that has been inflicted upon them.

The UNODC training is part of a series of capacity-building initiatives funded by the Federal Republic of Germany to protect children from terrorism through the adoption of a multi-sectoral, comprehensive and coordinated approach.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp/ Cellphone

Vasilina.brazhko[at]un.org