UNODC enhanced the capacity of Law Enforcement Agencies in HIV prevention and creating effective partnerships between police and other sectors in Uzbekistan.

On 4-6 May 2023, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia, jointly with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Country Coordinating Mechanisms, national committee that submit funding applications to the Global Fund and oversee grants in the field of combating the spread of HIV infection, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the UNAIDS in Uzbekistan conducted a 3-day national training ‘Ways of cooperation and the role of law enforcement agencies in HIV programmes in Tashkent region of Uzbekistan. 

 

The event was aimed at building the capacity of law enforcement officials involved in HIV prevention programmes and strengthening the role of Law Enforcement in public health response to ensure better and more efficient national HIV response. The participants learned the basic knowledge on HIV, importance of strengthening partnership between law enforcement agencies, community-led and other non-governmental organizations working with key populations, including self-protection of law enforcement workers during professional activities. 

The 60 law enforcement officers from the Department of Behavior and Health Crimes Prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from Academy of the Ministry participated at the training.  

The experts from the Republican AIDS Center discussed the basics of HIV Prevention. Zhannat Kosmukhamedova, Regional EECA HIV and Drugs Advisor, Global Focal Point on Law Enforcement and HIV, and Gulnur Bolyspayeva, National Programme Officer, UNODC Programme Office in Kazakhstan spoke on the role of Law Enforcement in HIV prevention and the protection of public health, establishing successful partnerships and referral system, risks of HIV infection including self-protection of law enforcement workers during professional activities, vulnerabilities, stigma, and discrimination of key population in terms of HIV and understanding drug use disorders. All materials were accompanied by short videos representing the best practices implemented in other countries (Moldova, the Ukraine).  

Following the training, the participants increased their knowledge and understanding the need to create a partnership between law enforcement agencies, community-led and other non-governmental organizations working with key populations and establishing clear mechanisms of the referral system. It was agreed to continue capacity building activities of the Law Enforcement representatives on their role on HIV prevention and Public Health response. Moreover, all participants developed a workplan of activities on integration of best practices in their regions.

 

The training was conducted in the framework of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 within the Sub-program III: ‘Addressing drug problems, increasing treatment of drug use disorders, and preventing HIV/AIDS’. This initiative was conducted with the financial support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNODC and UNAIDS.

For further information please contact:              

Arifa Fatikhova    

Communications and External Relations Officer 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 99) 825-05-43 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org