OSCE Office conducts workshop on change management for law enforcement officials

DUSHANBE, 19 November 2009 - An OSCE-supported workshop on change management related to fostering the launch of the police reform ended in Dushanbe today.

The event organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the Global Crisis and Rule of Law Development Association (Germany) and the Tajik Interior Ministry brought together 17 senior law enforcement officials with the aim of identifying necessary changes to the present police mandate and structure.

"The OSCE Office in Tajikistan has repeatedly stressed the importance of enhancing the skills of police managers to respond to security challenges posed by organized crime and terrorism," said Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. "We deploy every effort to enhance the police mandate and to reinforce the structures able to effectively counteract crimes. This is a pre-requisite for successful police reform, along with a strengthened relationship between the citizens and the police."

The workshop followed a one-week police reform assessment session. The results of the assessment were presented to international partners to identify steps required to successfully implement the reform roadmap. Fulfilling the needs of training and equipment, and the development of a clear strategy were considered crucial for the launch of the reform.