The Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) works to assist the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to ensure security and stability, including by fighting against terrorism, violent extremism, illegal drug trafficking and other transnational threats and challenges. It assists the Government in the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments and promotes co-operation between Uzbekistan and the OSCE, responding to the needs of local stakeholders.

Addressing the challenges to security and stability posed by terrorism and related international crime has increasingly been a focus of the OSCE since participating States adopted the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism in 2001. The OSCE anti-terrorism approach is further defined by the Bishkek Programme of Action (2001) and numerous Ministerial Council decisions, as well as important United Nations documents.

Already in 2000, the Government of Uzbekistan adopted a national Law on Combating Terrorism. It has acceded to all 13 universal anti-terrorism instruments and is actively engaged in countering terrorism, extremism and other forms of transnational crime. The PCUz's activities aim to optimally support these efforts, while paying special attention to mainstreaming gender concerns.

Threats connected with the current state of affairs in neighbouring Afghanistan, such as drug trafficking resulting from the cultivation of heroin crops and the connected trans-national criminality, as well as risks in the field of border security, are further crucial issues on which the PCUz provides prompt assistance upon request of the host country.

The PCUz facilitates the participation of representatives from Uzbekistan at major OSCE events on topics including confidence- and security- building measures, the implementation of FSC documents, enhancing cyber security, preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, travel documents security, promoting law enforcement co-operation and combating transnational organized crime.

The PCUz works to strengthen the institutional capacity of socio-political organizations and increase public awareness of their role in state governance, by organizing international expert meetings and training for local specialists, and also by providing technical assistance to assure their sustainability. It has re-published the Handbook on Political Parties of Uzbekistan.

Where appropriate, the PCUz co-operates with international and regional security organizations to gain from their expertise and avoid excessive duplication of activities.