Afghan and Tajik border officers learn new approaches to border security and management techniques at OSCE, UNDP course

First aid session on 19 September 2013 (OSCE BMSC/Shahlokhon Mayusupova)

DUSHANBE, 26 September 2013 – Twenty-one representatives of border agencies of Afghanistan and Tajikistan completed a joint OSCE-supported Border Management Awareness Course, today in Dushanbe.

The course was organized by the OSCE Border Management Staff College in partnership with the Border Management Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) project. The project is implemented by United Nations Development Programme and funded by the EU.

The course sought to contribute to improved border security and communication between border security staff of the two countries. During the ten-day course, officers learned about the latest methods and technologies to foster integrated border management and prevent transnational crime. The programme covered such topics as border security and border surveillance, fraudulent document and impostor detection, behaviour analysis and interviewing techniques, as well as countering human trafficking, applying leadership and management techniques. Human rights and refugee issues were also discussed.

“Over the past two years, we have co-operated with the EU-BOMNAF project on training of the agencies staff from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Our goal is to deliver the best practices and modern technologies to prevent and combat transnational threats and to strengthen co-operation between the border officials of the two countries,” said Ilona Kazaryan, Chief of Development and Outreach at the OSCE Border Management Staff College.

William Lawrence, UNDP BOMNAF Project Manager, said: “Up to now, some 180 officers were trained in seven courses held in close co-operation with the Border Management Staff College. The course participants learned about new methods and acquired new practical skills that will be helpful in their work. This is increasingly in demand among border officers from Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and we look forward to our continued co-operation with the OSCE Border Management Staff College.”