OSCE brings schools, police and prosecutors together to prevent youth crime in Kyrgyzstan

Strengthening the ability of schools, law enforcement and prosecution services to identify and support vulnerable young people before they become involved in crime was the focus of a national OSCE training held from 28 to 30 July in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. The event brought together 30 social pedagogues, juvenile police inspectors, prosecutors and representatives of state institutions from across the Kyrgyz Republic to enhance early intervention and multi-agency co-operation in preventing youth delinquency.

Organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the three-day training combined expert presentations, practical exercises, interdisciplinary group work and scenario-based simulations to strengthen participants’ capacity to recognize early warning signs of delinquent behaviour and develop co-ordinated responses.

Participants explored individual, family and social risk factors associated with juvenile offending, as well as practical methods for identifying vulnerable youth in school settings and referring them to appropriate support services. Particular attention was given to strengthening communication and referral mechanisms among educational institutions, law enforcement and prosecution services to ensure timely and effective interventions.

“Every young person who slips into delinquency is a missed opportunity for early intervention. As social pedagogues, we have a responsibility to recognize the warning signs before they become crises. This training has strengthened our ability to work hand in hand with police and prosecutors, so that vulnerable youth receive support when it can still change the course of their lives,” said Kasiyet Emilbaeva, Social Pedagogue at Toktogul Satylganov Issyk-Kul Regional Boarding School, Kyrgyzstan. 

The programme also addressed contemporary forms of juvenile delinquency, including youth violence, extortion and drug-related offences in educational settings. Through interdisciplinary case analysis and crisis simulation exercises, participants developed practical skills in joint decision-making, de-escalation techniques and multi-agency case management, while identifying opportunities to strengthen local prevention networks and institutional co-operation.

The training was organized within the framework of the OSCE-wide extrabudgetary project “Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption”, funded by Germany, with additional support from Andorra, Finland, Italy, Norway, Poland and Thailand.