On November 11, the UN headquarters in Geneva discussed Uzbekistan's experience in the rehabilitation and reintegration of citizens returned from Syria, the press service of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS), which organized the conference jointly with the Global Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), said.

The purpose of the event is to showcase Uzbekistan's experience in the field of rehabilitation and reintegration of persons returned from combat zones, as well as the activities of the Regional Expert Council recently created at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The conference was attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, chief of the Executive Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council Natalia Gherman, Director of the Global Engagement and Resilience Fund, Khalid Koser, Director of the Geneva Center for Security Policy Thomas Greminger, as well as Permanent Representatives of Central Asian countries and the EU to the UN in Geneva.

During the event, the attendees emphasized that since 2019, the Central Asian states have returned about 2,200 citizens, mostly women and children, from war zones in Syria and Iraq. "Special rehabilitation and reintegration programs have allowed them to return to civilian life, restore ties with families and local communities," the statement said.

Speaking at the event with a welcoming speech, the director of the ISMI Eldor Aripov voiced Uzbekistan's strategic approaches to the fight against terrorism and extremism.

According to him, the main focus is on education and the fight against ignorance. The country has the International Islamic Academy, the international research centers of Imam Bukhari, Termezi, Matrudi, as well as the International Center for Islamic Civilization, which popularize knowledge about the humanistic and peaceful essence of Islam and its role in the development of the civilization of Central Asia.

"Religion-related policy is based on the principles of tolerance and inclusiveness. “Maintaining interethnic and interreligious harmony is an effective barrier to the spread of extremism and radicalism in Uzbekistan,” the parties noted at the conference.

In line with its international obligations, Uzbekistan was one of the first to repatriate its citizens from war zones. Since 2019, more than 530 Uzbek citizens, mostly women and children, have been returned to their homeland. They were provided with medical, social and psychological assistance, and programs for vocational training and employment were developed.

Civil society and local communities are involved in the rehabilitation processes, and the work is based on careful consideration of gender and age characteristics, the event said.

As Vladimir Voronkov noted, “it is imperative for UN member states to develop rehabilitation and reintegration strategies based on Uzbekistan’s experience. The Tashkent model is aimed at ensuring the rights and dignity of the individual, which is important in the rehabilitation and reintegration processes.”

Khalid Koser, Director of the Global Engagement and Resilience Fund, emphasized that the Uzbekistan model serves as a roadmap for other states. "This method has demonstrated how effectively, humanely and with respect for human rights it is possible to return citizens from conflict zones," he noted.

The parties discussed the work of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration, created in 2024 under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. The Council brought together experts and specialists from all Central Asian countries. It accumulates methods and programs that ensure the successful integration of reintegrated persons into a normal and fulfilling life.

"I am convinced that the council created in Tashkent will help strengthen the exchange of best practices and lessons learned in this area," said Natalia Gherman, Head of the Executive Directorate of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.

Fajzo Numanaj, Deputy Head of the OSCE Counter-Terrorism Unit, noted that "the OSCE was very impressed by the work of local communities in Tashkent, when our representatives visited several mahallas and saw outstanding work on the rehabilitation and reintegration of people."

An employee of the EU Delegation to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Mattia Toaldo, expressed the readiness of the European Union to continue assistance in the field of security in Central Asia, including the repatriation of citizens from war zones.

“Uzbekistan is a key partner, and we intend to continue supporting initiatives aimed at maintaining stability in the region,” the diplomat emphasized.

The permanent representatives of the Central Asian countries to the UN in Geneva also expressed their readiness to cooperate within the framework of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration, supporting each other’s efforts to ensure sustainable development and security in the region.