OSCE facilitates engagement with and empowers border communities of Rushon and Shughnon districts of Tajikistan in border security and management

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in partnership with the Tajikistan Border Troops, conducted eight awareness-raising meetings from 15 to 20 July 2024 in the Rushon and Shughnon districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

The purpose of these meetings was to educate the local population about potential security threats from Afghanistan and the importance of promptly reporting any unusual or suspicious incidents related to border security. Over 400 individuals, including local administration officials, students, teachers, and residents (more than 50% of whom were female), gained a better understanding of working together for border protection during these meetings.

The OSCE Programme Office also provided hotline numbers and printed more than 1,000 calendars to help the local population near the Tajik-Afghan border report any border-related violations.

Engaging with communities residing in remote border areas near Afghanistan can provide valuable information to enhance overall situational awareness. Informing border communities about the role of civil society in state border protection is crucial for local security, stability, and safety.