Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 27 November 2024, Tashkent will host the second meeting of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones.

The event is organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the UN Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT), and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

Approximately 40 representatives from Central Asian governments, international organizations, and civil society are expected to participate.

Key topics will include best practices in implementing rehabilitation and reintegration programs, including civil society-led initiatives, and the development of recommendations for effective collaboration between government agencies, international organizations, and civil society.

Central Asia has emerged as a leader in the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from conflict zones. Since 2019, more than 2,100 citizens from the region, including women and children, have been successfully repatriated. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have conducted numerous humanitarian operations, gaining valuable expertise in this field.

The Tashkent meeting will mark an important step in strengthening international and regional cooperation.

It is worth noting that the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Armed Conflict Zones was established on May 14, 2024, in Tashkent.

The council’s structure includes an Executive Committee and four working groups focused on accountability, legal and judicial aspects, psychosocial support, healthcare and education, countering terrorist narratives, and civil society engagement, including women’s and youth groups. These groups convene regularly to provide consensus-based recommendations and proposals.