Representatives of Central Asian states, international and regional organizations, civil society, and expert communities gathered in Issyk-Kul from 2 to 5 June 2026 for the Third Meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones, held under the 2026 Chairpersonship of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The meeting was hosted by the Secretariat of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic and co-organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), which serve as the Council's Secretariat, as well as the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and UNICEF. The event was made possible through financial contributions from the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as support provided by the Government of the United States for UNICEF's rehabilitation and reintegration programming in Central Asia.
Established in 2024, the Regional Expert Council serves as a platform for strengthening regional co-operation and promoting the exchange of experiences and good practices among Central Asian states and international partners.
The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and discuss practical approaches to supporting individuals repatriated from conflict-affected areas in Syria and Iraq, including women and children. Discussions focused on international cooperation, criminal justice, community-based reintegration, child protection, communication and engagement with receiving communities, and trust-building approaches that contribute to sustainable reintegration outcomes.
Since 2019, Central Asian states have collectively repatriated more than 2,100 of their nationals from conflict zones in the Middle East. Participants highlighted the importance of continued regional co-operation, experience-sharing, and whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches grounded in human rights, child protection, and international law.
"Central Asia has demonstrated global leadership in the repatriation of its nationals from conflict zones, showing that complex challenges can be addressed through solidarity, political will, and regional co-operation," said Adilet Orozbekov, Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic. "No country can effectively address these challenges alone, and the Regional Expert Council serves as a valuable mechanism for exchanging best practices and strengthening common regional approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration, while ensuring that children are protected and given the opportunity to build a peaceful future."
"The Regional Expert Council has become an important platform for strengthening co-operation and sharing practical experience across Central Asia," said Ambassador Volker Frobarth, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. "The OSCE supports this dialogue as part of a whole-of-society approach and facilitates inclusive regional and intergovernmental exchanges that help build trust, strengthen resilience, and advance comprehensive approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration across the region."
Larissa Adameck, Head of the Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism highlighted that "the evolving security landscape in north-east Syria…has created new humanitarian, legal, operational, and security challenges. These developments reinforce the importance of preparedness, information-sharing, legal cooperation, and responses consistent with international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international refugee law."
"UNICEF encourages three priorities: keeping children at the centre of every decision; strengthening child protection, social welfare, education and community-based systems; and continuing regional co-operation to turn lessons learned into practical action. Together, these efforts can help ensure that every child is protected, supported and given the opportunity to thrive," said Samman Jung Thapa, UNICEF Representative to the Kyrgyz Republic.
The programme included thematic sessions on international co-operation and criminal justice co-ordination, long-term reintegration and resocialization, and communication and engagement strategies with returnees and receiving communities.
Participants also heard directly from a woman repatriated from Syria to the Kyrgyz Republic, who shared her experience of reintegration and rebuilding her life after returning home. Her story, including the establishment of a small business, highlighted the importance of sustained support, social inclusion, and community acceptance in achieving successful reintegration outcomes.
Participants also visited the "Altyn-Balalyk" Rehabilitation Center in Cholpon-Ata, where they learned about the Kyrgyz Republic's experience in providing rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and reintegration assistance to returnees and their families.
The Third Meeting of the Regional Expert Council reaffirmed the importance of sustained regional co-operation in supporting the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from conflict-affected areas, with particular attention to human rights and child-sensitive approaches. Participants emphasized the need to translate shared experience into practical, community-based action that strengthens protection and social inclusion. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to advance regional dialogue and co-operation across Central Asia in support of sustainable reintegration and social cohesion.
