From 3-6 July, 2023, the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Anti-Terrorism Center of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (the ATC SCNS), conducted a training course aimed at increasing awareness and capacity of the state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic in the implementation of the state policy in countering violent extremism and terrorism. This event was held in Issyk-Kul as part of the Tenth Experts Meeting on countering terrorism with the participation of representatives of state bodies and national experts.
The Experts Meeting is aimed at raising awareness of representatives of state bodies of Kyrgyzstan with the new Program of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on countering extremism and terrorism for 2023-2027, adopted in March 2023. Within the framework of the event, the results of the implementation of the previous Program on countering extremism and terrorism were presented, the main achievements and positive aspects, as well as shortcomings and problematic aspects of its implementation were discussed. The participants of the event became acquainted with the main objective, tasks and basic principles of the new Program of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on countering extremism and terrorism for 2023-2027, its main areas and directions were revealed. During the meeting, OSCE national experts presented a draft Action Plan for the implementation of the new Program, discussed the mechanisms for its implementation, and considered issues of countering the spread of violent extremism in local communities, among women and youth.
This Experts Meeting provided a platform for a broad discussion of the tasks set in the new Program and expected results, the interaction of executives in charge and matters of execution of measures for its implementation. Explanations were provided on the content of the Program, the rationale for the directions, tasks and activities outlined in it.
The main purpose of this event, attended by about 30 people, was to increase the capacity of representatives of state bodies in the field of countering violent extremism and terrorism, discussing the implementation of state policy, and establishing co-operation in this area.
It should be noted that the Program of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on countering extremism and terrorism for 2023-2027 was developed by the ATC SCNS with the extensive support of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek. As part of this co-operation, in June 2023, the new Program was presented at a high-level conference on the sidelines of the UN Week on Counter-Terrorism in New York, with the participation of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, the Anti-Terrorist Center of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism.
The Annual Experts Meeting, organized by the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, is a platform for the exchange of information and discussion of various aspects of preventing violent extremism and combating terrorism, and contributes to the development and improvement of practices to combat these threats in accordance with national legislation and international principles.
