OSCE Programme Officer in Dushanbe commenced its annual awareness-raising campaign entitled Parents against Terrorism

On 28 May 2018 the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe commenced its annual awareness-raising campaign, Parents against Terrorism, with a series of one-day activities in the local communities of Shaartuz, Qabodiyon, Qushoniyon and Vakhsh in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan.

The campaign aims to improve community resilience against violent extremism and terrorist propaganda, enable parents to better safeguard their kids from exposure to violent extremists and establish partnerships between local communities and state bodies to prevent violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism (VERLT).

Some 120 citizens – parents, teachers, local community leaders and social workers from local governance bodies – took part in the activities.

A woman from Shaartuz town, whose son was detained by Turkish authorities while on route to Syria, said during the workshop: “I so wish I would have known about the issues that were raised here before. I strongly believe I could have prevented my son from ending up where he is right now.” She added that she hopes the knowledge she gained will help her to prevent the rest of her children to follow their brother’s path.

“A group of young men from our community travelled to Syria. They joined violent extremist groups while working as labour migrants,” said Qayum Bobonazarov, another parent from Shaartuz town. According to Bobonazarov, the workshop helped him to better understand the topic and this would help him to be more vigilant while raising his children.

The next round of workshops will take place in the communities of Kulyab, Khovaling, and Muminobod throughout June 18 – 20, 2018. The planned is to reach out to 13 towns across Tajikistan until mid-July.