Bishkek, November 2, 2022 – In 2021, UNPD integrated Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into prevention of violent extremism (PVE) and peacebuilding programming in 15 countries, including Kyrgyz Republic. Addressing the psychological and social needs of communities is essential for building sustainable peace: Healing the conflicts within us helps resolve the conflicts around us.

UNDP Kyrgyzstan organized two days training for staff from the Psychosocial Support Unit, theologians and specialists from the regional departments of the Probation Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic.

30 people participated in the training on "Psychosocial support and trauma sensitivity for preventing violent extremism". “People get into difficult situations and can't get out on their own” – said Daniyar Moldokul uulu the Deputy Director of the Probation Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic in his welcoming speech. They first research and identify probations clients’ needs, find out the reasons, why they have stumbled. When citizens are prosecuted for the first time, they are psychologically unstable and frightened.

- We provide them with appropriate psychological help in such situations, explain that the judicial system gave them a chance to serve their sentence without isolation from society. In this training our colleagues have possibility to widen their knowledge and skills of preventive work with probation clients. I’m grateful for fruitful partnership with the UNDP Kyrgyzstan, all previous capacity building activities had a positive impact on both Probation Department staff and clients. According to statistics, cases of relapse decreased among our clients” – concluded D. Moldokulov.  

The main goals of this training were:

• To understand the links between mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and rehabilitation of people charged for cases related to violent extremism.
• To increase understanding of how adversity and trauma affect individuals’ health, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
• To increase ability to carry out basic emotion regulation practices in daily work and exercise trauma-sensitivity to improve interactions with clients.

Trainer Michael Niconchuk, Beyond Conflict organization program director explained that prolonged crises and violent conflicts have devastating consequences on the mental health and well-being of communities and individual. “Understanding traumatic backgrounds of probation clients makes a difference in helping them to return to their communities and build over their lives better.”  

Training supported by the UNDP project "Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in Asia” (STRIVE Asia), funded by the European Union through the EU-UN Joint Partnership. It was one of the set and important activities of the UNDP, conducted with and for Probation Department under the PVE interventions, to learn more please follow the link.

Link to photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcUkY

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Media Contacts: Nurzhan Alymkanova, communication specialist, nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org