OSCE promotes co-operation between young people and the police in Armenia

SOLAK, Armenia, 7 November 2013 – Schoolchildren from Solak village are learning about the work of the police at a two-day OSCE-supported event launched today in Kotayq region.

Thirty high school students are meeting local police officers to discuss the challenges of their work and the security situation in the region. Experts from the National Centre for Legal Researches (NCLR), a partner in this project, will explain to the schoolchildren problems related to drug addiction, and discuss the consequences of trafficking in human beings and corruption. Children will also have the opportunity to see the equipment used by the police in their work and experience a ride in a police vehicle.

NCLR Chairman Tigran Yeranosyan said: “The safe school and police-student partnership initiatives help the establishment of community policing in Armenian provinces. Their aim is to enhance the public’s trust towards the police and to stimulate collaboration between the police and civil society institutions, especially in the regions.”

The initiative will conclude with a meeting tomorrow with students from the local Humanitarian Institute who will be introduced to community policing as a new policing model and experience a citizens’ advisory group.

Since March 2013 around 270 schoolchildren from rural areas have had the opportunity to get first-hand information about the activities carried out by their regional police departments as a result of this project.  Moreover, 140 university students and 70 community police officers from seven Armenian regions have also had the opportunity to foster a more co-operative relationship.