The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) and the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) met with representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to promote techniques and cooperation methods for preventing and countering violent extremism (PVE/CVE). The event took place in Bishkek and the Osh region of the Kyrgyz Republic on 28-31 August 2018.
On 28 August, UNODC/TPB held a workshop on risk assessments and identifying early signs of radicalisation in the Osh region, Kyrgyz Republic. The workshop included presentations by experts on identifying the main considerations in developing risk assessments, and on effective assistance in identifying early signs of radicalisation. Participants included representatives from the districts of Osh and Kara-Suu, as well as civil society organisations.
On 29 August, UNODC/TPB held a joint meeting on piloting of PVE community forums in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic with representatives of the government, civil society and research institutes of the Kyrgyz Republic.
There, participants laid the groundwork for implementation of a "community forum" pilot programme. The forum will function as a periodic municipal- or community-level gathering of local government officials, law enforcement, teachers, psychologists, and other relevant actors, who will coordinate, share information and collaborate to address concerns in their community. The main objectives revolve primarily around safeguarding vulnerable individuals from criminality or violent extremism, and countering the spread of extremist ideologies, all in accordance with international standards and best practices.
UNODC/TPB met with government representatives and civil society organisations of Tajikistan and discussed methods to strengthen the regional
PVE Network.
The mission was conducted under the project supporting Central Asian States to strengthen national and regional frameworks for preventing and countering violent extremism. The project is funded by the government of Japan.