Military officers from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan attend regional OSCE-supported course on pre-deployment for peacekeeping operations

An OSCE-organized regional course on pre-deployment for peacekeeping operations began today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The five-day event brings together some 20 military officers from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The course is hosted by the “Partnership for Peace” Training Centre of the Army Academy of Kazakhstan (KAZCENT) and is supported jointly by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

The course provides essential knowledge required for all peacekeeping personnel – military, police or civilian – to function effectively in UN peacekeeping operations. Participants will learn fundamentals of peacekeeping, the rules of engagement for international peacekeepers, relevant international law, human rights protection, including the protection of women and children, and basic security principles in the field. Experts will share best practices and present safety and security procedures during peacekeeping operations according to international standards.

Since 2009, the OSCE has been supporting the development of co-operative mechanisms on a technical level among states in Central Asia and Afghanistan on the issue of explosive hazards reduction, including during peacekeeping operations.