Engaging Civil Society in Rehabilitation

(Pour le synopsis en français cliquez ici)

Promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremist offenders (VEOs) is a critical component of addressing the full lifecycle of violent extremist radicalisation and recruitment. Amid growing numbers of returning foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and the active prosecution of suspected terrorists in general, the need to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of VEOs to optimise the chance that societies accept reintegratees and minimise the risk of recidivism has gained further significance and international traction. Such rehabilitation and reinterring efforts not only concern those associated with, but also those affected by violent extremism, for example victims, families and communities.

In recognition of the invaluable contributions that civil society organisations (CSOs) and community actors offer to programs aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), as reinforced in the UN Secretary-General’s “Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism” of December 2015, it is vital that government agencies, international organisations and frontline practitioners engage these stakeholders in effective rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. Non-governmental organisations, actors at the community level (such as religious leaders, family members, social workers, victims organised in groups, students, teachers, etc.), the private sector, and the media can and should play key roles in different stages of the rehabilitation and reintegration process. Despite early efforts to include such actors into comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation and reintegration processes, the experience and capacity of such actors, as well as governments’ willingness to integrate this group of stakeholders, varies across and between different countries and regions.

This project aimed to strengthen the networks, capacity and will of civil society organisations and community leaders to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of VEOs. An action agenda was developed, which focused on three sub-regions and contained concrete programming ideas and policy recommendations for the effective engagement and involvement of civil society actors and communities in the rehabilitation and reintegration of VEOs, countering prison radicalization, and reintegrating returning FTFs.