On February 24-25 this year, the delegation of Uzbekistan headed by the director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) Eldor Aripov took part in the Fourth International Humanitarian Forum in Riyadh.

The forum, organized by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and the UN, brought together representatives of international organizations, experts and government officials to discuss global challenges in the field of humanitarian diplomacy, increasing the effectiveness of multilateral efforts to address problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature.

The forum focused on issues of consolidating the global community with the aim of continuing to provide emergency and long-term assistance through the UN and its specialized institutions, including providing those in need around the world with food, housing, medical supplies, and logistical support.

Among the distinguished guests of the forum were the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs - Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Directors General of  International Organization for Migration - Amy Pope, World Health Organization - Tedros Ghebreyesus, International Committee of the Red Cross - Pierre Krähenbühl, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations - Maciej Popowski, Head of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund -  Catherine Russell and others.

Speaking at the session “Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Overcoming Challenges and Searching for Opportunities,” Eldor Aripov presented the Uzbek model of social adaptation of citizens returned from armed conflict zones. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism requires not only forceful measures, but also the elimination of the root causes of radicalization, including social isolation, lack of education, and economic instability.

In this context, since 2019, Uzbekistan has been implementing the Mehr (benevolence) humanitarian mission, within the framework of which more than 530 citizens, mainly women and children, have been repatriated. For their social adaptation, a comprehensive rehabilitation program has been developed, including medical, psychological and social support.

During the event, the ISRS Director introduced the participants to the activities of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees, established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

It was noted that the Council started its work in 2024 under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office. The main areas of the Council's work include judicial and legal issues, psychological and social support, countering extremist narratives and civil society engagement.

Despite the successes achieved, work in the field of rehabilitation and reintegration requires further improvement. In this context, interest has been expressed in transforming the Regional Expert Council into an International Competence Centre for Reintegration and Rehabilitation. According to the participants, this will help to unite the experience of different countries in the field of rehabilitation and reintegration, develop global standards and methods of assistance, restore the physical and mental health of victims of conflicts, train and retrain to return people to active life and work.

For information: The  King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) organizes the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF) every two years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The RIHF brings together leading representatives of the humanitarian field, including donors, practitioners, researchers and other experts, to facilitate dialogue on legislation, information technology and logistics in humanitarian assistance. The Forum also addresses current humanitarian challenges and develops innovative practical solutions in line with international humanitarian principles and standards and in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).