4.12 Programme Office in Dushanbe Two newly established Model Police Stations in Rudaki and Hissor districts were officially opened and became operational. Following an MoI-organized countrywide selection campaign supported by the Office, the PCs hired almost 30 per cent new staff members. The public councils also held monthly information meetings in the communities of their respective areas of responsibility to raise awareness among the more than 4,500 attendees, including youth and women, on the police reform process and the PCs’ activities in the regions. The Office helped provide modern equipment to the MoI Forensics Department and supported the establishment of a forensic classroom at the MoI Academy. These measures aimed at increasing the practical capacities of cadets and forensic experts so they are familiar with the modern techniques and methods used in their studies and their service. Throughout 2018, the Office sponsored the participation of government representatives at regional and international events to help further incorporate the principles of democratic policing, respect for human rights and gender mainstreaming, and to support the host country in fulfilling its international commitments and to assist with the professional development of the local counterparts. A total of 12 representatives of different law enforcement agencies were given support to participate in such international events and activities. Activities Related to General Police Development and Reform Police Development and Reform within Security Sector Reform The Office supported the MoI with the development of ten project proposals in different areas of police work in the framework of implementing police reform in Tajikistan. It is envisaged that all ten projects will be presented at the Police Reform Steering Group/Donor Co-ordination Meeting in 2019. From 9 to 14 February, the Office supported the visit of a Tajik Delegation headed by the MoI to Vienna to participate in the opening session of the OSCE Security Committee. At the session, Tajikistan’s Minister of Internal Affairs gave a comprehensive briefing on the progress made in implementing police reform. The Minister also presented the priority areas that needed further support from the OSCE participating States, specifically mentioning such issues as new police uniforms, the procurement of new equipment for the police, and the automatization of all communication 124 processes in MoI structures. During the discussion that followed, the Minister touched upon issues of community policing and gender mainstreaming in the context of the Tajik Police Force transition, which generated a lot of interest among participating States. On 29 June 2018, the Office supported the MoI Academy’s top management officials’ travel to Nur-Sultan (then Astana), Kazakhstan to attend the launch of the OSCE PAN, which goal is to serve as a communication platform for law enforcement educational and training institutions. It is a joint project of TNTD/SPMU, TNTD/CC and OSCE field operations. On 25 July and 9 November, the Office provided assistance to two model police stations in the Rudaki and Khissor districts, completing their construction and providing them with ICT-equipment and furniture. The first model police station was inaugurated on 25 July in the Khissor district. Based on a Ministerial decree, 14 officers were assigned to the newly established station to serve the surrounding communities, which have a population of more than 36,000 people. The second model police station, located in the Esanboy jamoat of Rudaki district, was opened on 9 November and staffed with 14 MoI officers assigned to serve the area, home to a total of 22,000 people.