OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe hosts visit to assess projects funded by Japan

On 7 and 8 June 2018, the Programme Office in Dushanbe hosted a delegation from the Japanese Permanent Mission to the OSCE in Vienna. The main purpose of the visit was to assess the effectiveness of projects funded by Japan and implemented by the Office in the past several years.

During the two-day visit, the Japanese delegation, accompanied by H.E. Hajime Kitaoka, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan and Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, Head of the OSCE Programme Office, visited the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) in Khuroson, Khatlon region. The Japanese Delegation learned about the hands-on support it provides to victims of domestic violence. The 18 WRCs in Tajikistan constitute the largest civil society network in the country promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls to claim their rights and access state services and institutions.

The delegation also visited the OSCE-supported Aarhus Center in Bokhtar, Khatlon region, where the Centre’s work to raise awareness of the Aarhus Convention and rights of the public with regard to the environment was demonstrated.

Members of the delegation also participated in the closing ceremony of the border management staff  course for women leaders at the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC). The course had been attended by 26 female leaders from 16 countries, including 4 female officers from Afghanistan and Tajikistan, respectively. H.E. Ambassador Kitaoka took the opportunity to underline the importance Japan attaches to enhancing the capacity of border officials and cross-border-co-operation, in particular between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, to strengthen security and stability in the wider region.

During the visit, the Japanese delegation furthermore held meetings with representatives of the Border Troops of the Republic of Tajikistan and representatives of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Dushanbe.