A meeting of the National Advisory Council of the PRR project was held in Tashkent
On 10 February 2026, the first meeting of the National Advisory Council of the Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) project was held in Tashkent.
The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the Delegation of the European Union (EU), the Global Engagement and Resilience Facility (GCERF), the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (Hedayah).
The meeting brought together heads of relevant ministries and agencies, representatives of international organizations, the expert community, and civil society.
The goal of the meeting was to coordinate efforts and develop coordinated approaches within the framework of the three-year PRR project, funded by the European Union. The project aims to further improve the national system for working with repatriates and strengthen sustainable mechanisms for their rehabilitation and reintegration.
The key feature of the initiative is the pooling of expertise from three international institutions established under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. GCERF promotes civil society engagement through grant support for local NGOs, Hedayah oversees strategic communications and educational programs, and IIJ facilitates the improvement of legal mechanisms and institutional practices for working with returnees. This collaborative format allows for the scaling of Uzbekistan's unique methodology and the integration of international legal, social, and communications standards.
Speaking at the meeting, ISRS Deputy Director Bakhtiyor Mustafayev emphasized that international support demonstrates the global community's recognition of Uzbekistan's achievements.
"Our country has proven in practice that repatriation is not a threat, but an investment in stability," the expert noted.
He added that the model they have developed combines a humanitarian approach with long-term security objectives.
EU funded project
Jana Kurpisa, Programme Manager of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, stated that the project aims to strengthen national programs for the rehabilitation and reintegration of repatriates and to strengthen the country's institutional capacity.
EU funded project
Karina Timshina, Regional Programme Coordinator for Central Asia at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, highlighted the work of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration. She stated that the Council, established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, will significantly strengthen regional efforts in this area.
The start of the active phase of the PRR project also received support from the US Embassy, the OSCE Project Coordinator's Office, UNICEF, and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Uzbekistan.
Following the meeting, representatives of GCERF, Hedayah, and IIJ announced a detailed project implementation plan for 2026. Participants developed a set of practical recommendations aimed at ensuring the effective and coordinated implementation of the planned activities.
Overall, holding the Council's first meeting in Uzbekistan was an important step in institutionalizing partnerships and confirming the country's commitment to a systemic and comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation and reintegration of repatriates.