OSCE seminar explores enhancing security features of travel documents

TASHKENT, 8 April 2014 – The three-day regional seminar which opened today in Tashkent will examine how to enhance processes and security features associated with modern travel documents to offer greater protection against terrorist and criminal use.

Focusing on Central Asia and neighboring regions, the seminar will explore best practices and the standards for travel documents as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The seminar will also highlight effective procedures for identifying travelers and related border-security processes as well as the capacity-building needs of OSCE participating States.

“Recent examples underscore time and time again that weaknesses in travel document security and identity management are exploited by terrorists and criminals to cross borders undetected,” said Ambassador Brühl, Representative of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship  “Tackling these weaknesses will go a long way in preventing and combating terrorism and serious transnational crimes.”

Ambassador Szabo, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said: “It is not good enough to issue electronic passports if issuance processes can be abused by fraudsters using a fake birth certificate to apply for a passport under a false identity. Likewise, there is no point investing in modern and securer travel documents if they can’t be read and checked at the border.”

A key objective of the seminar is to underscore the need to take a comprehensive approach towards travel document security - from secure and reliable civil registry systems to integrated border security solutions.

The seminar is organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in collaboration with the OSCE and is hosted by the government of Uzbekistan. It is a continuation of OSCE efforts to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorists and other criminals using forged or fraudulent travel documents. The OSCE assists participating States with upgrading security features of passports and issuance systems.  Efforts also promote effective solutions at borders to cut waiting times for travellers whilst giving greater assurances to border control officers that travel documents are genuine.