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The challenge of radicalisation and extremism
The issue of radicalisation leading to terrorism and violent
extremism poses a challenge to the states’ security but also to
fundamental values that lie at the heart of Europe: respect for the
human dignity, freedom (including freedom of expression), democracy,
equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Radicalisation remains a priority for Europe as a result of the risk
of returning foreign terrorist fighters, extremists in prison and
the vulnerable period around their release.
To effectively respond to the issue, cooperation and partnerships
must be promoted with Balkan, Southern and Eastern European
countries due to their particular exposure to these and related
threats.
About HOPE
HOPE strives to create a network that supports continuous training
and knowledge sharing in the Balkan, Southern and Eastern European
countries, a European learning hub on Radicalisation. A network of
training and research organisations, academies, prison and probation
systems, that can intervene on radicalisation prevention and
disengagement but also to improve the transition process between
prison and/or probation systems and the community for those at risk
of radicalisation or who have been radicalised. It will achieve this
outcome by promoting a holistic radicalisation prevention initiative
focusing on offenders, front line staff and community organisations.
Objectives
To develop newly-designed, innovative, and multidisciplinary
approaches to teaching and learning, in order to raise awareness,
foster overall knowledge, and enhance competencies within a regional
stakeholders network;
To create a network of training institutions, introducing new
content and teaching/learning innovations that aim to increase the
efficiency – and results – of training interventions;
To improve, on the one hand, the set of skills of judicial, prison
and probation professionals on how to identify and prevent
radicalisation in correctional settings and, on the other, the
skills of community organisations staff (including religious
organisations) on how to deal with these individuals at the
prevention, management, and intervention stages;
To implement a regional-specific approach supported by active and
collaborative methods (with expert partners) that will be not only
for collecting and discussing needs, learnings and best practices –
training sessions, workshops, high-level seminars and policy forums
– but also for the development and implementation of effective
training programmes.
Expected outcomes
Creation of a network for training and knowledge sharing (Balkan,
Southern and Eastern European learning hub);
Increased awareness about the phenomenon of radicalisation and
extremism that lead to terrorism in detention environments;
Improved understanding about detecting “red flags” of violent
radicalisation and about the prevention and detection mechanisms
currently in place in some European countries;
Enhanced capacity to deal with inmates at risk of radicalisation or
radicalised by receiving training and gaining new knowledge and
tools useful for everyday challenges;
Common understanding by practitioners and decision-makers of the
necessary strategies to be implemented when dealing with the
transfer of radicalised individuals in detention or under community
supervision (contributing to the application of the European Council
Framework Decisions).
Promoter
IPS Innovative Prison Systems (Qualify Just – IT Solutions and
Consulting), Portugal
Partners
University College of the Norwegian Correctional Service, Norway
Agenfor International, Italy
Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Spain
Bulgarian Association for Policy Evaluation, Bulgaria
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Serbia
Slovenian Probation Administration (Ministry of Justice),
Slovenia
General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”, Bulgaria
Bucharest-Jilava Penitentiary, Romania
Timeframe
01/07/2020 – 30/06/2023 (36 months)
Website
http://hope-radproject.org/
Funding
The project “HOPE – HOlistic radicalisation Prevention initiativE”
is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and
Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. |
