On November 11, 2024, a high-level event entitled “Effective rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from North-Eastern Syria – Uzbekistan’s experience” was held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva.

The conference was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS) and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

The event’s purpose was to present the Republic of Uzbekistan’s experience in rehabilitating and reintegrating persons returned from war zones and the activities of the Regional Expert Council, which was recently created at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The event featured speeches by UN Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, Head of the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate of the UN Security Council Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund Khalid Koser, Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) Thomas Greminger, as well as Permanent Representatives of Central Asian countries and the EU to the UN in Geneva.

At the event, it was emphasized that since 2019, the states of the region 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 and restore ties with families and local communities.

Speaking at the event with a welcoming speech, the ISRS Director Eldor Aripov announced new strategic approaches of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

It was noted that primary attention is paid to issues of education and the fight against ignorance. The International Islamic Academy, the international research centers of Imam Bukhari, Termezi, and Matrudi, and the International Center for Islamic Civilization operate in the country, which popularize true knowledge about Islam's humanistic and peaceful essence and its role in the development of Central Asian civilization.

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

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

In conclusion, all participants expressed their readiness for further cooperation and developing joint programs to support common efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate returnees.

UzA