Young graduates and professionals from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Mongolia discuss the role of the security sector in stability and peace in their region

The holistic nature of security sector governance and reform (SSG/R), the transformations experienced by different countries, and the efforts still required to further improve security sector governance in Central Asia were discussed at an OSCE workshop, held from 16 to 21 July in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. 

Fourteen OSCE Academy graduates and alumni from Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan came together to learn about contemporary SSG/R concepts, taking the opportunity to think critically, to use different approaches, and to evaluate “when, where, and why” to apply SSG/R tools in the Central Asian context – including in light of the situation in Afghanistan. 

During the five-day workshop, participants deepened their theoretical and practical knowledge of human security, good governance, and human rights – focusing on both people-centred and state-centred security. They also enhanced their knowledge of the links between security and justice and the importance of gender and inclusivity in SSG/R processes. The event provided young graduates and alumni the opportunity to develop their professional and academic skills, together with their peers.

This summer school workshop was organized jointly by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. It was funded by the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Support, capacity-building and awareness-raising for Security Sector Governance and Reform within the OSCE: Phase III”, with financial contributions from Germany and Finland as well as in-kind support from DCAF.