Kazakhstan unites police and youth to combat extremism through innovative training
A recent conference in Kazakhstan has brought together police and young people to tackle extremism. Organised by Germany's Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the event focused on prevention strategies and youth engagement. Over 5,000 Kazakhstani teenagers have already benefited from related training since the partnership began last year.
The conference, titled Police and Youth: We Stand Together Movie!, targeted 16- to 20-year-olds. Workshops and lectures covered policing, cybersecurity, and extremism prevention. GIZ and the Almaty City Police Department have worked together since May 2024, running school programmes and awareness sessions.
By early 2026, these efforts had cut reported cyber incidents among participants by 25%. Stefan Buchmayer, head of GIZ's regional programme, highlighted two key challenges in Kazakhstan: the gap between state and society, and the threat from groups like the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP).
Kazakhstan's approach now mirrors Germany's 'whole-of-society' model, involving civil society, researchers, and authorities. GIZ supports this by promoting alternative role models for youth and sharing international best practices with local police. Buchmayer stressed the importance of listening to young people and giving them confidence to resist extremist narratives.
He also encouraged those interested in policing or counter-extremism careers to engage deeply with their communities. Building resilience, he argued, starts with understanding societal needs and offering clear perspectives for the future.
The GIZ-led initiative has already trained thousands of young Kazakhs in online safety and extremism prevention. Official reports show a measurable drop in cyber incidents among participants. With continued collaboration, the programme aims to strengthen youth resilience and improve relations between police and communities.
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