CG/BUR/2015(27)22

22 January 2015

Congress strategy to combat radicalisation at grass-roots level

Debated and approved by the Bureau of the Congress on 2 February 2015

Introduction

1.         In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris on 7 and 9 January 2015, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has proposed the strengthening and acceleration of the Organisation’s activities of particular relevance to the fight against radicalisation leading to terrorism. 

2.         To this end he asked the different Council of Europe bodies and departments to contribute with concrete proposals for short, medium and long-term action to be included in a global Council of Europe Action plan to combat radicalisation leading to terrorism, for presentation to the Committee of Ministers, which is currently examining it.  

3.         The Congress has worked for many years on areas pertinent to the fight against radicalisation at local and regional level and its contribution, in the form of the Congress strategy detailed below, will make reference to its relevant texts. 

·         Recommendation 134 (2003) / Resolution 159 (2003) on tackling terrorism – the role and responsibilities of local authorities

·         Recommendation 170 (2005) on intercultural and inter-faith dialogue: initiatives and responsibilities of local authorities

·         Resolution 304 (2011) on “Meeting the challenge of interfaith and intercultural tensions at local level”

·         Recommendation 153 (2004) on a pact for the integration and participation of people of immigrant origin in Europe's towns, cities and regions

·         Resolution 332 (2011) on “Education for democratic citizenship: tools for cities”

·         Resolution 264 (2008) on “Social approach to the fight against racism at local and regional level”

·         Resolution 116 (2001) concerning the manual on local authorities and urban crime prevention and the Manual on Local Authorities and Urban Crime Prevention - CPL (8) 2 Part II

4.         The Congress strategy, to be discussed and adopted by the Bureau at its meeting on 2 February 2015, proposes different activities structured in three pillars to be carried out in the short, medium and long term (see timeline of activities below):

I.             Awareness raising activities

Under this pillar the Congress will:

-           hold debates on the fight against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other manifestations of hate and on urban policies to combat the threat of terrorism during its 28th Session (24-26 March 2015);

-           task the youth delegates participating in the 28th Session in the framework of the Congress’ “youth operation” with examining, in particular, the topic of  radicalisation of youth;

-           present for adoption a resolution and recommendation on combating radicalisation and manifestations of hate at grass-roots level at its 28th Session;

-           draw up guidelines for local and regional authorities on preventing radicalisation and manifestations of hate at grass-roots level, in the light of the above-mentioned resolution and recommendation and present them for adoption at its 29th Session (20-22 October 2015);

-           taskits Current Affairs and Governance Committees with examining the feasibility of creating a pedagogical tool-kit for use by local elected representatives when organising intercultural and inter-faith activities;

-           mandate its Current Affairs and Governance Committees to prepare a joint reflection document on follow-up to the strategy, notably with a view to updating the Congress’ relevant legal texts and with due reference to existing recommendations and tools;

-           co-organise with the Austrian province of Styria, the municipality of Graz and the European Training and Research Centre of Graz an International Human Rights Forum (28-29 May 2015) and use this opportunity to make local and regional elected representatives aware of their responsibility for drawing up and implementing urban policies to combat radicalisation.

II.            Synergies and partnerships with other Council of Europe bodies

Under this pillar the Congress will:

-           provide contributions at local/regional level to existing Council of Europe action plans and campaigns (e.g. the Faro Convention Action Plan, Living Together Action Plan, follow-up activities to the “No Hate Speech”-campaign etc.);

-           organise events fostering intercultural and inter-faith dialogue and better relations between community groups in the framework of the Congress’ European Local Democracy Week 2015;

-           in line with the SG’s initiative to create a think-tank composed of specialists to draw-up guidelines on teaching about religion (against the background of democratic citizenship/intercultural dialogue), contribute to such a think-tank at local/regional level;

-           propose co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly’s No-Hate Parliamentary Alliance;

-           propose co-operation with the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER).

III.           Synergies and partnerships with other institutions/bodies

Under this pillar the Congress will:

-           seek to build on existing co-operation established with relevant networks such as EFUS (European Forum for Urban Security) and ECCAR (European Coalition of Cities against Racism);[1]

-           work with its main partners in the member states, the associations of local and regional authorities, to encourage their municipalities to engage with primary schools in order to foster information and education (taking into account  Congress Resolution 332 (2011) on “Education for democratic citizenship:  tools for cities”);

-           contribute to a possible extraordinary Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe Ministers of Education.

IV. Timeline of activities proposed in the Congress Strategy to Combat Radicalisation at Grass-roots Level

short (0-4 months), medium (4-8) and long-term actions(8-24)

N°

Action

Timeline

1

Adoption of the Congress Strategy to Combat Radicalisation at Grass-roots Level at the Bureau Meeting on 2 February 2015

short

2

During its 28th Congress Session (24-26 March 2015): hold debates on the fight against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other manifestations of hate and on urban policies to combat the threat of terrorism

short

3

Task the youth delegates participating in the 28th Session in the framework of the Congress’ “youth operation” with examining, in particular, the topic of  radicalisation of youth.

short

4

During its 28th Congress Session (24-26 March 2015): propose for adoption a resolution and recommendation on combating radicalisation and manifestations of hate at grass-roots level

short

5

At its 29th Session (20-22 October 2015): propose for adoption guidelines for local and regional authorities on preventing radicalisation and manifestations of hate at grass-roots level, in the light of the above-mentioned resolution and recommendation

medium

6

Task its Current Affairs and Governance Committees with examining the feasibility of creating a pedagogical tool-kit for use by local elected representatives when organising intercultural and inter-faith activities

medium

7

Mandate its Current Affairs and Governance Committees to prepare a joint reflection on follow-up to the strategy, notably with a view to updating the Congress’ relevant legal texts and with due reference to existing recommendations and tools

medium

8

Co-organise with the Austrian province of Styria, the municipality of Graz and the European Training and Research Centre of Graz an International Human Rights Forum (28-29 May 2015) and use this opportunity to make local and regional elected representatives aware of their responsibility for drawing up and implementing urban policies to combat radicalisation.

short

9

Provide contributions at local/regional level to existing CoE Action Plans and campaigns (e.g. the Faro Convention Action Plan, Living Together Action Plan, follow-up activities to the “No Hate Speech”-campaign etc.)

medium

10

Organise events fostering intercultural and inter-faith dialogue and better relations between community groups in the framework of the Congress’ European Local Democracy Week 2015

medium

11

In line with the SG’s initiative to create a think-tank composed of specialists to draw-up guidelines on teaching about religion (against the background of democratic citizenship/intercultural dialogue), contribute to such a think-tank at local/regional level

medium

12

Propose co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly’s No-Hate Parliamentary Alliance;

medium

13

Propose co-operation with the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER)

medium-long

14

Seek to build on existing co-operation established with EFUS (European Forum for Urban Security)

medium-long

15

Seek to build on existing co-operation established with ECCAR (European Coalition of Cities against Racism)

medium-long

16

Work with its main partners in the member states, the associations of local and regional authorities, to encourage their municipalities to engage with primary schools in order to foster information and education (taking into account  Congress Resolution 332 (2011) on “Education for democratic citizenship:  tools for cities”);

medium-long

17

Contribute to a possible extraordinary Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe Ministers of Education

medium-long


[1] Coalition of Cities against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, discrimination and xenophobia.