On Wednesday 14 June CEP organized a Webinar on Radicalisation gathering experts from three EU jurisdictions – France, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria representing the Council for Penological Cooperation. The webinar brought a focus on the topic of radicalisation from different angles and perspectives highlighting the importance of prevention and early detection as well as the need for continuous improvement of multi-agency cooperation among various stakeholders taking into account the whole-of-society approach, staff training, exchange of information, knowledge and expertise.
More than 40 participants representing probation, prison, universities, courts, police, international organisations and many others from across Europe and the world attended the webinar.
The three presentations were the following:
1) Disengagement and reintegration of radicalised inmates: the French experience
by Julien Loty
The French Directorate of the Penitentiary Administration has developed a strategy to combat violent radicalization in detention in order to meet the security challenges posed by the risk of violence based on a radical ideology and the risk of proselytism likely to be exercised by inmates. This strategy is based on the identification, evaluation and handling of detainees convicted of acts of terrorism or common law offenders suspected of violent radicalization linked to jihadist ideology. This strategy is articulated around dedicated units within prisons for the assessment and handling of these inmates. Trained professionals provide individualized, multidisciplinary intervention to disengage inmates throughout the process. Continuity of management is ensured in the open environment by the penitentiary insertion and probation services and can be reinforced by the Individualized Reception and Social Reaffiliation Program (PAIRS). Four PAIRS centres provide individualized support for people convicted or awaiting trial for acts of terrorism to disengage from radicalization and prevent the risk of violence and reoffending while promoting social reintegration.
Presentation not available.
2) Actual Trends in Radicalization in Online Environment
by Barbora Vegrichtová
The presentation focused on the topics discussed in the virtual environment of the internet and social media with the focus on new trends and potential security threats related to radicalization and inclination to extreme violence. Greater attention was paid to recruitment methods, propaganda tactics, sharing toxic materials and the phenomenon of the copycat effect. Practical examples and concrete cases were integral parts of the presentation. In the end, recommendations for security practices, social work and opportunities for prevention were mentioned.
Presentation not available.
3) Improving international and multi-agency cooperation to tackle radicalization and terrorism
by Nadya Radkovska
The last presentation focused on the improvement of international and multi-agency cooperation to tackle radicalisation and terrorism discussing the international cooperation in the VETOs context, new challenges, promising practices, and opportunities for strengthening multi-agency cooperation.
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