From 11 to 14 August 2026, a four-day workshop on peer-to-peer support for mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) survivors was held in Dushanbe. Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in close co-ordination with the Tajikistan National Mine Action Center (TNMAC), the workshop brought together 16 mine and ERW survivors (3 women and 13 men) from different regions of Tajikistan.
The workshop aimed to strengthen survivors' psychosocial well-being, resilience and self-confidence, increase their knowledge of their rights and available services, and support their social inclusion and reintegration through shared experience and mutual support.
The legal component of the workshop focused on legal awareness of survivors' rights and social protection mechanisms. Participants learned about national and international legal frameworks related to the rights of mine and ERW survivors and persons with disabilities, including social protection, employment, healthcare and rehabilitation, as well as available benefits and allowances. Expert presentations were complemented by group assignments and case studies, enabling participants to discuss practical legal situations, identify possible solutions and better understand how to access relevant services.
A psychologist led the psychosocial and peer-to-peer support sessions and TNMAC experts addressed psychological well-being, stress management and coping strategies. Through professional consultations, group exercises, role-playing, relaxation techniques and other interactive activities, participants gained practical tools to manage stress, express emotions and provide peer support. Experience-sharing exercises also encouraged participants to reflect on their own journeys and consider how their knowledge and experiences could help other survivors and their families.
TNMAC, in co-operation with the survivors' organization Taqdir, selected participants with particular attention to vulnerable survivors from remote areas with limited access to specialized rehabilitation and support services.
The activity contributes to Tajikistan's commitments under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, all of which emphasize the rights, protection and inclusion of mine victims and persons with disabilities. As an integral part of humanitarian mine action, victim assistance goes beyond physical rehabilitation to encompass psychosocial support, social and economic inclusion, access to services and protection of rights.
