European Union – Tajikistan Civil Society Seminar: "Addressing radicalisation and violent extremism – Central Asian perspective", 11-12 October 2016
The aim of this seminar is to empower Tajik NGOs, educate them on this topic, as well to enable them to share information and create contacts among themselves and with their foreign counterparts. Therefore main audience of the seminar is Tajik civil society representatives and media. Also Tajik government officials and diplomats working in Dushanbe participate in the seminar.
The Head of the EU Delegation Hidajet Biscevic noted during the seminar that non-governmental organisations play an essential role in consolidation of society and development of democracy and pluralism. Therefore it is of utmost importance for Tajikistan, while it is facing various challenges, including radicalisation and violent extremism, that the state and the civil society work together on consensual social atmosphere to expand inclusive dialogue and broaden human rights.
"Only mutual and shared responsibility, understanding of broader political context and recognition of democracy as the best foundation of stability could provide this proper balance, to the best interest of the country faced with many challenges, difficulties and potential threats," noted H.Biscevic. The Head of the EU Delegation expressed hope that the presence of well-known European and regional experts during this seminar will help to identify and discuss the possible involvement of civil society in the process of tackling radicalism, violent extremism and terrorism.
In total around 70 participants attend the seminar, of which more than 10 high-level speakers– scholars, experts and NGO activists from Europe, for instance Germany and Denmark, and from Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan).
The civil society seminar is a part of the annual Human Rights Dialogue organised between the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to discuss wide range of issues in the field of human rights. One of the key aims of the seminar is the formulation of the common recommendations by the civil society, which later will be studied by the EU and presented to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.