Capacity building to train the staff of the MIA Academy
- Details
- Published on 17 November 2012
Strengthening local capacities to develop and implement effective, human rights-compliant policies, trainings and practices aimed at countering terrorism in Tajikistan.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) assists OSCE participating States in strengthening their compliance with international human rights standards in combating terrorism. Thus, ODIHR Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Programme has developed a training module on anti-terrorism and human rights as well as a body of expert resources, in particular a manual on “Countering Terrorism, Protecting Human Rights” (available in both English and Russian). The training module provides comprehensive guidance on the fundamental principles of international human rights law and standards to senior policy makers, public officials and practitioners. The manual, which contains applicable human rights standards and best practices in the fight against terrorism, is both a stand-alone resource for professionals in developing and implementing strategies, and a complementary reference for ODIHR’s training programme. Together the two provide a solid foundation for a core course in this area.
In this perspective, ODIHR has conducted a series of activities inCentral Asiato increase the States’ deepest understanding on the need to promote and protect human rights while preventing and combating terrorism. In April and December 2009, the Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Programme, together with the OSCE field operations inTajikistanandKyrgyzstanconvened two roundtables on understanding and addressing violent extremism and radicalisation that lead to terrorism in these countries.
Moreover, ODIHR and the OSCE Office inTajikistanjointly organised in December 2009 a training on human rights and anti-terrorism for instructors from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy and theHigherSchoolof the State Committee on National Security which was positively assessed by the participants. They expressed their interest and commitment in working on these issues further and requested OSCE support in developing and implementing a training module on human rights and terrorism for its integration into the regular curriculum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy.
ODIHR and the OSCE Office inTajikistanhave therefore worked closely to elaborate the project based on the local needs and context and agreed in July and December 2010 on its different phases and activities. Throughout this period of project’s design and needs’ assessment, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy reiterated its commitment to cooperate in implementing this project.
The project is aimed at developing a specific course on human rights and counter-terrorism for its future integration into the curricula of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy and theHigherSchoolof the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan. This project hinges on close involvement of representatives from the national law enforcement training institutions in the elaboration of the training adapted to the local context and needs. In this regard, a working group composed of 10 representatives from the Academy and Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Higher School of the State Committee on National Security of Tajikistan was established and in charge of developing the course and relevant training materials, with the support of ODIHR Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Program and the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
A series of activities took place to assist the working group members in developing the course such as a training of trainers and a workshop on curriculum development (June 2011), expert meetings to review the draft course materials (October 2011 and February 2012), a study tour to Croatia (January 2012), a workshop to finalize the course materials (August 2012), review and written comments on the draft course materials (throughout the project) and the pilot training sessions at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Higher School of the State Committee on National Security (November 2012).
The Project resulted in the development of a course on human rights in the anti-terrorism context to be delivered to 5th grade students of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and theHigherSchoolof the State Committee on National Security. Both training institutions plan to integrate the course into their regular curricula as specialized course. According to plan the course will be taught to students of these institutions starting from 2013.
This Project forms a key element of ODIHR support to OSCE participating States in creating sustainable training programs on human rights and anti-terrorism in police academies, judicial institutions and other relevant settings. It was implemented in close cooperation with the OSCE Office inTajikistanand therefore complements its country specific activities. In particular, the project built on the extensive knowledge acquired by the Counter-Terrorism and Police Programme on the local specificities related to counter-terrorism as well as on the relations already established with the main national counterparts.
