Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 December, a high-level briefing dedicated to the activities of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Individuals Repatriated from Conflict Zones was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The event was organized by Uzbekistan’s Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) and the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the UN, with support from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

Speakers included UN Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, Head of UNRCCA Kaha Imnadze, Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari, Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Center Mauro Miedico, former UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, and Leticia Courtois, Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the UN, among others. Ambassadors from Central Asian countries also participated.

Representatives from more than 50 member states across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Latin America, as well as around 10 international organizations, attended the briefing, underscoring significant interest in the initiative.

The Regional Expert Council was established in 2024 under the UNOCT’s auspices at the initiative of Uzbekistan’s President. It serves as a platform for Central Asian experts to develop effective practices and programs for successfully reintegrating repatriated individuals into normal life.

Since 2019, Uzbekistan has repatriated over 530 of its citizens, primarily women and children, from conflict zones. These individuals received medical, social, and psychological assistance, as well as vocational training and employment programs.

Speaking at the briefing, Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari expressed deep appreciation to the President of Uzbekistan for his commitment to regional security, particularly through the establishment of the Regional Expert Council.

UNOCT Director Vladimir Voronkov highlighted the council’s role as a model for mobilizing international efforts. “Today’s discussions confirm that the Regional Expert Council is a hub for innovative practices in rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.

UNRCCA Head Kaha Imnadze praised the initiative as unique and replicable. “The Regional Expert Council offers a model that other parts of the world can adopt. I encourage Central Asia’s partners, the UN, and regional organizations to continue leveraging this platform,” he added.

The ambassadors of Russia and the United States to the UN expressed strong support for the council’s work, commending Central Asian countries’ proactive efforts to repatriate their citizens from conflict zones as a demonstration of political will and commitment to international obligations.

Participants lauded Uzbekistan’s use of local community structures, or mahallas, as key components in reintegration efforts. Assistant Secretary-General Khiari described Uzbekistan’s “bottom-up” approach as uniquely effective, emphasizing the role of communities in ensuring successful outcomes.

Former UN Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin highlighted the human rights-oriented focus of Uzbekistan’s model, particularly its dedication to child protection. “Uzbekistan treated returning children as ‘children of the nation’—a crucial factor in their successful reintegration,” she noted.

UNICEF expert Kaisu Kokko echoed this sentiment, stating that Uzbekistan’s child repatriation efforts demonstrated its commitment to children’s rights.

Future Plans

Despite its relatively recent establishment, the Regional Expert Council has emerged as a pivotal platform for addressing global challenges related to rehabilitation and reintegration. Participants called for continued international engagement, including the organization of a side event during the UN’s High-Level Counter-Terrorism Week in June 2025.

It was also announced that Kazakhstan will assume the chairmanship of the council in 2025. Kazakhstan’s UN representative, Kairat Umarov, pledged to build on Uzbekistan’s achievements and further advance the council’s mission.

In conclusion, participants emphasized the importance of showcasing the council’s work to the global community and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting its initiatives.