DUSHANBE, September 14, 2010 Asia-Plus  -- A five-day training course on human rights and border control organized by the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) started in Dushanbe on September 13.

According to press release issued by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the training course has brought together 21 senior border officials from 10 OSCE participating States to analyze and discuss human rights issues in the context of border management.  The course will make use of interactive case studies to strengthen participants'' understanding of human rights standards and their application and relevance to border controls.

"The protection of human rights and serious security concerns do not pull in opposite directions.  On the contrary, it is essential to respect human rights and the rule of law to successfully secure borders and counter transnational threats such as terrorism," said Lucile Sengler, ODIHR''s Human Rights Officer on Anti-Terrorism Issues.

Experts from ODIHR, the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are leading the course and addressing issues such as preventing torture, human rights in a state of emergency, freedom of movement and migration.

"The theme of human rights and border control is very topical for the OSCE Border Management Staff College and is in line with its main aim of acting as a central institution where officials from all border-related agencies throughout the OSCE area can enhance their knowledge on keeping borders open and secure," said Alain Scolan, the Principal of the OSCE BMSC.