EU CBRN Centers of Excellence Initiative: the 1st National CBRN Action Plan workshop for Uzbekistan
The meeting, facilitated by experts from the EU Joint Research Center (JRC) in coordination with the Regional Coordinator from the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Uzbek authorities. It was attended by members of the Uzbek CBRN working group. Mr. Bakhtiyor Gulyamov, Head of the State Inspection Sanoatgeokontekhnazorat and Head of the Regional Secretariat for Central Asia, as well as by Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, opened the event.
The workshop held as part of the European Union CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence initiative (EU CBRN CoE) was the first of a series of national workshops aimed at incorporating the national vision for risk mitigation into a National CBRN Action Plan and at identifying priorities for building capacity. Among the participants of the workshop were representatives from the State Inspection Sanoatgeokontekhnazorat, the Ministry of Emergency Situation, Ministry of Health, the Academy of Science, the Ministry of Interior, and other relevant ministries and agencies.
The goal of the event was to make another step towards incorporating separate efforts into one coherent approach aimed at strengthening national capacities for prevention, detection, preparedness and response to CBRN threats. This workshop allowed for a review of the identified CBRN risks, capabilities, gaps and actions for capacity-building, and focused on priority actions. It also prepared the path for a better identification and implementation of projects focusing on capacity-building and promoting coordination and sustainability. Following the meeting, the Uzbek CBRN working group and JRC experts will both work on a series of tasks before meeting again for the second workshop beginning of 2017.
The EU CBRN CoE (www.cbrn-coe.eu) Initiative is funded by the EU and jointly implemented by JRC and the the UNICRI. The EU CBRN CoE currently covers 8 regions and 54 partner countries. The EU CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat for Central Asia is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It works in partnership with countries in the regtion to encourage local ownership of CBRN action plans, policies and joint preparation of regional project proposals.