OSCE launches guidebook on non-custodial rehabilitation and reintegration measures for those who participated in violent extremism activity in South-Eastern Europe

Effective rehabilitation and reintegration of those who participated in violent extremism activity is the focus of a new guidebook launched at a webinar organized by the Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU) of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department for more than 80 participants from civil society, governments, academia and international organizations based in South-Eastern Europe on 8 October 2020.

ATU representatives presented their new guidebook, Non-custodial Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism: A Guidebook for Policymakers and Practitioners in South-Eastern Europe.

“The OSCE has developed this guidebook as a complimentary resource to existing tools and efforts that exist on reintegration of violent extremist offenders in prison settings,” said Georgia Holmer, Head of ATU in her opening remarks.

Expert practitioners from South-Eastern Europe discussed their experiences from working with communities in various capacities from policymaking to psychiatric care. This demonstrated the ‘whole-of-society approach’ to effective rehabilitation and reintegration of persons involved with violent extremism and terrorism.

Lejdi Dervishi, Executive Director of the CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) Centre-Albania added: “The CVE Centre-Albania will continue to encourage all efforts to further extend the network of stakeholders at the central and local levels in order to establish a wide network of front-line professionals consisting of state and non-state actors responsible and engaged on preventing and countering violent extremism in close co-operation with local communities, civil society and the private sector to fight these phenomena. We need partners and we need partnerships and we are committed stronger than ever to make this collaboration fruitful and efficient.”

Borche Petrevski of North Macedonia’s National Co-ordinator for Countering Violent Extremism and Combating Terrorism, said: “The OSCE Guidebook aligns with the policies of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia envisaged in the National Plan for Reintegration, Resocialization and Rehabilitation of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters and members of their families, women and children. Only through co-ordination and meaningful partnership between the government, religious and local communities, civil society at large as well as international partners, will it be possible to address these security challenges and develop meaningful policies to counter and prevent violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT).”

Participants expressed great interest and engagement in what they said constitutes a highly relevant and timely topic.

The OSCE is a pioneer in advancing preventative approaches to violent extremism and terrorism. It works to support the development and implementation of impactful and safe P/CVERLT policies and programmes in the OSCE’s participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

In addition to today’s guidebook launch, the guideook series on P/CVERLT includes:

• Understanding the Role of Gender in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism - Good Practices for Law Enforcement
• The Role of Civil Society in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism. A Guidebook for South-Eastern Europe
• Understanding Referral Mechanisms in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism Navigating Challenges and Protecting Human Rights A Guidebook for South-Eastern Europe 
• Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community-Policing Approach
• A whole-of-society approach to preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism. A guidebook for Central Asia