SAFERWORLD in KAZAKSTAN

KYRGYZSTAN UZBEKISTAN

SUGHD

DISTRICTS OF REPUBLICAN SUBORDINATION

TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN GORNO-BADAKHSHAN Introduction KHATLON AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

After a civil war that ended in 1997, the post- Communities in Tajikistan face a range of insecurities To respond to these challenges, in 2007 the government “ We used to be afraid of the police and we Soviet country of Tajikistan has gone through in their daily lives – from corruption and human rights began a police reform process, supported by the did not want to communicate with them. a slow reform process, especially around abuses to cross-border conflicts and gender-based international community, which represents a new Anyone who collaborated with police used to violence – which they are not always able to resolve approach to the development of policing within governance and the security sector. Through through formal channels. There is evidence that segments Tajikistan and takes account of international practice. be perceived as a person under investigation joint efforts by the Government of the Republic of the population (including young people) are looking It also seeks to take account of lessons learnt from past or as an informer. Now we understand they of Tajikistan and the international community, to alternative groups for provision of security and access phases of police development. are not punishers but service providers.” to justice, as well as a moral framework and opportunities A participant of community police partnership team activities safety and security in the country have improved Saferworld has been working with the government, for employment, education and recreation. Such groups in Ghafurov town. substantially. However, there are still major national and local authorities, civil society, affected can be religious, ethno-nationalist, or criminal. Therefore, challenges to ensuring a stable environment communities and others to ensure that this reform it is important that formal security and justice systems in process leads to improved security for people around for sustainable peace and development. the country are able to meet the needs of diverse groups the country. of people.

Tajikistan must also contend with a complex external environment. To the north, it is bordered by the Fergana Valley, sharing a complicated grid of disputed borders and natural resources, which are a source of tension with Uzbekistan and . To the south lies Afghanistan, which has a long history of violence and instability that often spills over or creates tensions in communities along the border. About us Our work Promoting people-centred policing

We believe in a world where everyone can lead To do this, we: Saferworld has developed and used a people-centred Saferworld’s experience shows that using evidence from peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from fear and n strengthen community-police relations approach to security in conflict-affected and fragile community-level work increases the effectiveness of contexts for more than 15 years. advocacy for greater systemic change nationally and insecurity. n work in partnership with police at all levels (local, internationally. We are conducting research to inform sub-national, national) and with civil society and In Tajikistan, this approach helps us to tackle security We are an independent international organisation and improve our programming work, and also to better communities to build trust and improve cooperation concerns – from domestic violence, road safety and crime, working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives, inform our advocacy at all levels to influence changes in to youth grievances and access to education and jobs – with programmes in East , Central , South n work with partners to improve the accountability of behaviours, relations and structures. and South East Asia, and the and North police services and make recommendations on security by working directly with people who are affected by Africa. In , Saferworld works in Tajikistan policies and practices conflict and insecurity and ensuring that responses take In Tajikistan, Saferworld supports the implementation into account the experiences and needs of women, of the national police reform strategy (2013–2020) by and Kyrgyzstan and has started piloting a new initiative n provide civil society and communities with the skills youth and marginalised groups. strengthening the capacity of public councils (PCs), in Uzbekistan as part of a regional grant supported and support they need to advocate with authorities community police partnership teams (CPPTs), civil society by the United States Institute of Peace. This promotes for timely, effective and efficient security services and Together with our civil society partners – Jahon, organisations, police and communities – developing community policing approaches in the five Central Asian justice provision that meet the needs and respects the Association of Scientific and Technical Intelligentsia skills that they will need to make the people-centred countries, to address the drivers of violence and support rights of all communities of Tajikistan (ASTI), Zarshedabonu, Marifatnoki, approach to policing a success. Regionally, Saferworld for or participation in violent groups. and Lawyers Association of Pamir (LAP) – we bring n support young women and men to push for police- brings together law enforcement and civil society communities and authorities together to discuss their Saferworld has been working in Tajikistan since 2010 community initiatives that are inclusive of everyone representatives from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, safety and security concerns and to find solutions that and set up an office in Dushanbe in 2016. Together with n challenge harmful gender norms and roles that Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to discuss community reduce and prevent insecurity, conflict and violence and our partners, we bring communities and authorities perpetuate conflict, insecurity, and violence policing approaches and to address the root causes of (including security providers) together to discuss their contribute to building sustainable peace and security. n seek to understand the underlying causes of violence support for violence and participation in violent groups. safety and security problems and to find solutions that We pass our learning on to government officials, and support for violent groups, helping authorities reduce and prevent insecurity, conflict and violence. law-makers and the national police service to influence and communities to address these drivers national policy. We believe it is vital for community members to be included in discussions that address the security issues that affect them directly. Our achievements

Together with our partners, we: n developed the skills and capacities of seven PCs to raise n renovated and equipped 14 community policing n organised learning visits between Tajikistan and “ Just the name ‘community policing centres’ public awareness about the positive impact of police centres for communities to gather with each other Kyrgyzstan for Ministry of Internal Affairs officials tells you that they are about collaboration reform and community policing on people’s security and with the police to address their safety and security responsible for police reform, police officers, and civilian between people and police. The partnership concerns members of PCs and CPPTs to share experiences on how n established partnerships with 15 local Hukumats teams are helping us to maintain order and (district-level government) and Jamoats (village- n trained around 180 police officers at the local, community policing and community security is used in safety in our small town.” level government) and helped set up twelve CPPTs. sub-national, and national levels on conflict- and their respective countries Assistant to the Head of the Hukumat (local government structure) n Three of these teams are in communities along the gender-sensitive community policing approaches as researched the root causes of violence and recruitment of Nurek city. Tajikistan-Afghanistan border and use community part of the national police reform strategy (2013–2020) into violent groups, and trained PCs, CPPTs and civil policing approaches to address the underlying causes in Tajikistan society organisations in developing “ We learnt how to go through a process of of violence and support for violent groups n reached an estimated 1,500,000 people through strategies to address these issues collaboratively with identifying, analysing, and prioritising police, communities and authorities n trained around 150 members of CPPTs on community awareness-raising and educational campaigns, safety concerns of the communities where policing approaches and organised study tours to supported by 27 community and police action plans to n supported 17 CPPTs that had been previously established we live. The best part is that we learnt how Northern Ireland for five police officers and five civil address community security concerns, such as domestic society members to learn about community policing violence, road safety, crime, youth grievances, and to do it together with the police and other best practices access to education and job opportunities authorities.” n supported seven PCs to bring community concerns to n improved collaboration between PCs and CPPTs A member of the Bokhtar PC. the police, and advocated with the local Hukumats and throughout Tajikistan police for increased support for CPPTs COMMUNITY POLICE PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTING POLICE REFORM TEAMS

The PCs set up by the Ministry of Internal Affairs CPPTs, which are set up by the MIA with support (MIA) in Dushanbe, Districts of Republican from Saferworld and the United States Department We have set up 15 new CPPTs and supported 16 existing Subordination, Sughd, Khatlon and Gorno- of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law ones, and together with our civil society partners and PCs Badakhshan Autonomous Regions are consultative Enforcement Affairs (INL) are made up of a cross- we have provided guidance and training to help them and supervisory bodies to represent citizens’ interests section of society – civil society, elders, religious analyse local safety concerns and to address them in ways during the police reform process. We also support leaders, youth leaders, journalists, teachers, local that are sensitive to conflict and gender. Many of these them to advocate for better security provision that business owners, and an equal balance of men and CPPTs have prioritised public concerns around gender- takes into account gender and conflict dynamics, women – and provide a platform for communities to based violence, drug and alcohol abuse, youth violence, and is inclusive, transparent and accountable to all. work with local authorities to identify and prioritise and recruitment of young people into violent groups. COMMUNITY security concerns and to develop action plans to SECURITY “ Before, we did not go to the communities resolve them peacefully. They facilitate trusting, “ Our community is very traditional, religious PROGRAMME with crime maps or any other information. respectful, and inclusive partnerships between and patriarchal. That is why any issue related CYCLE But now we realise that in order to become the police, local governments and communities. to women is very sensitive. However, we They also facilitate collaborative problem-solving decided to address domestic violence, and you closer to the people we serve we have to and dialogue at the local level, aimed at preventing share information with them. It is essential conflict and violence and addressing the drivers of know what? Our women feel more empowered to be as open as possible.” insecurity and marginalisation. to come to one of the female members of our Police officer in Khujand. CPPT and to share their stories. I think this is “ Because of our work to address domestic a great achievement.” violence, the local Hukumat [city and A member of the CPPT in Rasht. regional government] understood the scale of the issue and started to support us.” A member of the CPPT in Rasht. CASE STUDY: CASE STUDY: WORKING WITH THE POLICE TO CHANGE APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY SAFETY TACKLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Many in Tajikistan worry that young people are “We know that our action plan will not change things Violence against women and girls is increasingly We facilitate problem-solving processes within CPPTs vulnerable to recruitment into violent groups, such as overnight,” said a police officer in Hamadoni district. recognised as a problem in Tajikistan. Because of the and support them to develop and implement effective ISIS, Al Qaeda, the Taliban and affiliated groups. Through “But working on it has helped us to understand different roles and expectations of women and men in action plans that are conflict- and gender-sensitive, CPPTs, Saferworld and partners have brought police that there are alternative approaches to addressing the household and a masculine police culture dominated to address the problems faced by women and girls. and communities together to discuss these issues and to recruitment into violent groups and that all cases are by men, many cases of abuse are never reported. With this knowledge, in addition to their background explore how to address the underlying causes. “Before, different and require their own strategy.” While there have been some efforts to address the issue in community policing, they are able to change their I always thought that we need to gather people together nationally, these have not gone far enough to challenge approach to policing to become more gender sensitive and talk to them about the negative consequences of “ Before, I always thought that we need to patriarchal systems or the underlying causes of violence to the particular threats that women and girls face – joining the violent movements,” said a police officer gather people together and talk to them about against women and girls. A joint report from leading enabling them to report abuse. By speaking with people who is a member of the team. “But we never thought of the negative consequences of joining the human rights organisations estimated that nearly half who are affected by these issues, the police are able to triggers and causes, and motives of youth to join these of all women and girls in Tajikistan have faced some get a better idea of some of the insecurities that people groups.” Together, the group identified several factors violent movements […b]ut we never thought form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes – face. This process of identifying, analysing and prioritising that needed to be addressed – including school drop-out of triggers and causes, and motives of youth so their security concerns are a top priority for many safety concerns – and hearing different perspectives from rates, limited time and space for leisure, unemployment to join these groups.” communities. women, youth and minority ethnic groups – is absolutely and poverty, and hard-handed police tactics that increase A police officer and CPPT member. crucial. As a result, towns like Guliston in Sughd Region Saferworld, together with our civil society partners, has feelings of discrimination and marginalisation. To address identified domestic violence as a major issue that is been working with women and girls in communities to some of these issues, the teams developed action plans perpetuated by harmful stereotypes and women’s social ensure their concerns are heard by authorities and that that included activities such as vocational trainings and and economic dependence on husbands and fathers. they can work together toward finding solutions. dialogue workshops that bring young people together Together, the Guliston CPPT conducted awareness- and help them gain skills and knowledge to tackle some raising activities by bringing women together to discuss of their concerns. these issues and to take part in trainings or pursue their hobbies, such as sewing or computer classes. CONTACT US saferworld in tajikistan [email protected] For further information about us and our work in Tajikistan, please visit www.saferworld.org.uk/tajikistan Web: www.saferworld.org.uk Twitter: @Saferworld or email us at [email protected] office You can keep up to date with our work by signing up for 127 Rudaki Avenue, office 911 email alerts at www.saferworld.org.uk/stay-informed. Dushanbe, Tajikistan You can also follow us on Twitter ( ) or like our @Saferworld Phone: +922 (93) 500 71 01 Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Saferworld). Saferworld is a UK registered charity (1043843) The Tajikistan programme is generously funded by the and a Company Limited by Guarantee (3015948) in England and Wales. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement photographs front cover: © khusrav zuhurov /saferworld; inside pages: © khusrav zuhurov /saferworld, khirad kargasov /saferworld, Affairs (INL). max slaughter /saferworld; back cover: © ninara /flickr