Webster Sophomore Becomes UN Ambassador for Preventive Diplomacy

Jur'atbek Jakhongirov, an International Relations sophomore student at Webster University in Tashkent, became a UN Ambassador for Preventive Diplomacy. The title signifies Jakhongirov’s training as a youth leader who works toward improving regional dialogue on conflict, peacebuilding, countering violent extremism, and gender equality in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Jakhongirov is one of Uzbekistan’s representatives in a growing interregional network - the Young Ambassadors for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia and Afghanistan (UNRCCA). The ambassadors are students of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy, a series of seminars organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. Jakhongirov was one of 36 participants selected to participate this year. 104 young people ages 18 to 29 applied.

“As I was selected for this project/mission as a citizen of Uzbekistan, it was my responsibility to participate and represent the youth of Uzbekistan in formal meetings of UNRCCA and other UN bodies collaborating with it.”

From Oct. 12-15 Jakhongirov participated in the culmination of this year’s Preventive Diplomacy Academy, the Central Asian Youth Dialogue in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference was focused on facilitating conversation among Central Asian young people about identifying and resisting violent extremism and terrorism. According to Jakhongirov, the event was a “platform to discuss challenges and opportunities to resist challenges in a civil society and more essentially enhance the function of the [Preventive Diplomacy Academy] networking.”

The sophomore plans to continue to engage with UNRCCA and other UN agencies: “In coming months, we will join the interregional network of Young Ambassadors of Preventive Diplomacy to gain access for further participation in events organized by the UN RCPDCA and other UN structures.”

At the Preventive Diplomacy Academy, young people learned about the principles on which the United Nations operates, preventive diplomacy theory and soft skills, such as conflict management and intercultural communication. The students also learned how to apply the concepts of design thinking, message development, and storytelling to preventive diplomacy.

As the UNRCCA states, “Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but also a positive, dynamic and participatory process in which dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are resolved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”

One of the key reasons the young ambassadors gather together is to make sure that when they become leaders in Central Asia, they will likely draw upon their international acquaintances in the Preventive Diplomacy network. Jakhongirov shared his view that “it is very crucial for younger generation to comprehend the essence of our message.”