Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 26 July, the first meeting of the Working Groups of the Regional Expert Council (REC) on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones in Central Asia was held online. This council was established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

The meeting was held as part of the implementation of the "Roadmap" for cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the UN Counter-Terrorism Office for 2024-2025.

Representatives from Central Asian countries, members of the Regional Expert Council, and more than 10 international and regional organizations participated in the event, including UNICEF, UNDP, the International Committee of the Red Cross, OSCE, EU, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund.

During the meeting, the results of the first session of the Regional Expert Council, held on May 14, 2024, in Tashkent, were presented. Preliminary plans for the working groups for 2024-2025 and the development of an informal regional network of practitioners in rehabilitation and reintegration were also discussed.

Participants once again highlighted the effectiveness of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s initiative to establish the REC in strengthening international and regional cooperation in prosecution, repatriation, and reintegration.

It was noted that the Council has become a unique platform for sharing experiences among Central Asian countries regarding the return of their citizens from conflict zones, discussing new challenges and threats in counter-terrorism and extremism, and enhancing the effectiveness of regional cooperation in this area.

Speakers drew attention to the high evaluation given to the establishment of the Regional Expert Council during the UN Security Council meeting on July 23, noting its relevance and necessity in current conditions.

It was emphasized that the region’s counter-terrorism experience has also been recognized as a unique approach by UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his tour of Central Asia.

According to the speakers, the establishment of the Council reflects the Central Asian countries’ commitment to international obligations and multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism. The participants agreed that the Regional Expert Council represents a reliable mechanism for the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees and could be seen as a model for other regions.

It is worth noting that the activities of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones in Central Asia began on May 14 of this year in Tashkent.

The REC structure consists of an Executive Committee and four working groups: (a) on accountability, legal, and judicial issues; (b) on psychosocial support, health, and education; (c) on countering terrorist narratives; (d) on civil society, including women’s and youth groups, which meet regularly to provide recommendations and/or proposed solutions based on consensus.