Central Asian repatriate reintegration experience presented at UN

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A side event dedicated to the experience of Central Asian countries in the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of citizens returning from conflict zones was held at the UN Headquarters in New York within the framework of Counter-Terrorism Week. Uzbekistan's initiative to establish the International Competence Center in this field was also presented at the meeting.

The event was organized with the assistance of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UN OCT) and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). It was attended by representatives from more than 50 states across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Latin America, as well as approximately ten international organizations.

Among the speakers were the Acting Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Alexander Zuev, Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre Mauro Miedico, Executive Directors of the Hedayah Center and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund Ahmed Al Qasimi and Khalid Koser, as well as heads of diplomatic missions from Central Asian countries.

Opening the event, Alexander Zuev noted the successful work of the Regional Expert Council on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Repatriates, which was established at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. According to him, the activities of the Council contribute not only to strengthening regional cooperation but also to forming practical models that can be utilized by other states.

Meeting participants emphasized that the Regional Expert Council has become an example of effective multilateral interaction and confirmed the importance of a comprehensive approach to the prevention of extremism. It was specifically noted that the experience of Central Asian countries, which have returned more than two thousand of their citizens from conflict zones, is viewed as one of the global benchmarks for conducting humanitarian operations.

Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, presented the initiative of the head of state to establish the International Competence Center for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Repatriates.

According to him, the center will build upon the experience of Central Asian countries and become an international platform for developing modern approaches to rehabilitation, training specialized experts, creating educational and vocational programs for returnees, and developing measures for the prevention of extremism.

Eldor Aripov noted that the center's activities will be results-oriented. Key tasks include the professional training of repatriates, the development of methodological recommendations for UN member states, and the compilation of annual analytical reports.

Membership in the International Competence Center is expected to be open to all states, non-governmental organizations, independent experts, and researchers. The center's secretariat is planned to be organized in close cooperation with the UN Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

Following the event, the participants confirmed the need for further consolidation of international efforts and support for the initiatives of Central Asian countries in the field of return, rehabilitation, and peaceful reintegration of citizens returning from conflict zones.