International workshop on the role of psychological support services in border agencies held in Minsk

MINSK, 14 September 2010 - An international workshop supported by the OSCE Office in Minsk on the role of psychological services in border security and management and other law enforcement agencies will take place in Minsk today. 

The event brings together representatives of the psychological support units of border agencies from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine, as well as representatives from organizations including the OSCE, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the Belarusian Society of Red Cross and non-governmental organization La Strada Belarus. Participants will exchange experience and expertise in providing psychological support to the staff of border agencies. Best practices will be identified for consideration by the Belarus State Border Committee when developing a strategy to improve its Psychological Support Service.

"Psychological support is important not only for the border agency personnel themselves, who often work under stressful conditions, but also to help them provide appropriate assistance to vulnerable individuals, including victims of trafficking. The project will provide border guard officers, who are often the first points of contact for such people when crossing international borders, with the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with them appropriately and in line with universal human rights principles" said Jandos Asanov, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk. "Today's workshop supported by the OSCE Office represents an important opportunity for border agencies in the region to share knowledge and expertise in this sphere."

The workshop was organized as part of a joint project between the State Border Committee and the OSCE Office in Minsk to assist the State Border Committee in reinforcing its Psychological Support Service.