Protecting Human Rights while Countering Terrorism Effectively: Training for Law Enforcement in Uzbekistan

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), jointly with the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), is organizing two training workshops for law enforcement authorities in Uzbekistan on protecting human rights while countering terrorism effectively. The workshops will take place on 22 and 23 February in Samarkand and on 26 and 27 February in Tashkent specifically for the authorities from the Tashkent region.

The training will be delivered by ODIHR human rights experts and a former counter-terrorism police officer from Canada. For the third time, selected national trainers, who participated in a train-the-trainer workshop on the same topic organized by ODIHR and PCUz in 2021, will co-deliver the workshops in Uzbekistan.

Topics and sessions

ODIHR's standard training on the protection of human rights in counter-terrorism focuses on the link between human rights and the operational effectiveness of policing.

Participants will learn about human rights standards, the risks of human rights violations in the context of counterterrorism, the impact of human rights violations on both suspects and law enforcement officials, and interview techniques that build trust and respect, among other topics. Concrete examples and case studies from law enforcement officers' practical experience in countering terrorism are the basis for the interactive training methodology.

The training will be held in English and Uzbek, with simultaneous interpretation.

Participants

The target group of the training courses are mid- to senior-level officers from the local police departments of the Ministry of Interior, the State Security Service, the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Guard in Samarkand and Tashkent regions.

Registration

Participation is by invitation only.

Background and further information

ODIHR has been mandated by OSCE participating States to provide technical assistance and advice on the implementation of counter-terrorism measures in line with international human rights obligations and commitments. Through its Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Programme, ODIHR provides a comprehensive range of activities in this regard, including capacity-building on human rights and counter-terrorism issues for law enforcement officials.

Questions related to the training courses can be directed to:

• Johannes Heiler, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues, johannes.heiler@odihr.pl
• Maximilian Scheid, ODIHR Associate Human Rights Officer on Anti-Terrorism Issues, maximilian.scheid@odihr.pl