Description:
In the UK, a key part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy is called Prevent. It is a programme aimed at stopping more people getting drawn towards violent extremism. Yet some argue that it is failing because it is seen as targeting one community and the problem is that regardless of best intentions, if the programme is widely perceived as being discriminatory then it inevitably runs the risk of failure.
This Seminar looks at the problems of the Government’s Prevent strategy and how we can address them at a local level through the work of communities and local authorities. How do we win the hearts and minds of young people without them feeling they are being targeted,how do we equip our young people with the critical thinking to assess radicalised messages so to be able to challenge them and how do we create links between communities to create the context in which to do this?
These are the critical questions because the government’s counter-terrorism strategy has been remarkably successful at the level of security and the basic protection of British citizens with any number of plots foiled and people brought to justice but at the level of affecting hearts and minds for the better it has been largely unsuccessful.”
This workshop will focus on how we move from Prevent as a tool to counter security to one where we engage young people through dialogue and good practice. We will have some major speakers outlining the deficits in the Prevent Strategy and how these need to be confronted and we will have some case studies of good practice. We will also have space to develop our own ideas and to map ways forward.
Participants of this workshop will gain:
- An understanding of the Prevent Strategy, its strengths and weaknesses
- The role of the local authority, educational institutions and the voluntary sector
- An understanding the importance of cultural engagement
- The value of dialogue and community conversations
- The importance of social networking
- Timely feedback and next steps
Programme*
The morning session will examine the Prevent strategy and consider both its strengths and weaknesses, It will look at how we can move from security and surveillance methods to community engagement and the winning of “hearts and minds.” There will also be space and time for those there to contribute with their own idea and experience in working groups.
The afternoon session will look at case studies of engagement and cultural awareness with emphasis on how such models can be replicated within our own authorities and communities.
09:30 Coffee and Registration
10:00 Introduction to day and overview (Francis Sealey, GlobalNet21)
10.05 Skype Interview (Yvonne Ridley) on “Mind Set & Radicalisation: Why Do Young People Become Radicalised”
10:15 Questions to Speaker
10:30 Introducing Ourselves
10:45 Speake on The Prevent Strategy – The Role of The Local Authority, Parents & The Community. Speaker Marisa De Jager
11:05 Speaker 2 The Need To Engage “Hearts & Minds.” (Erin Saltman)
11:25 Questions to speakers
11:45 Open Session – Discussion Around Attendees Experience and Ideas
12:15 Lunch
12:45 Overview of Afternoon (Francis Sealey)
12:50 Case Study 1 Criminalisation & Radicalisation – Preventing at Community Level – Speaker Mandy Sanghera. This will look at how people get victimised through cultural factors such as abuse, forced marriages and often end up in the criminal justice system where radicalisation can take place.
13:10 Case Study 2 Hanif Qadir Active Change Foundation
13:30 Questions To Speakers
13:45 The role of social networks and the new media – Hanif Qadir
14:00 Questions to speaker
14:10 Not All Problems Are About “Prevent.” Polly Harrar (Sharan Project)
14:25 Questions to Speaker
14:40 Working Groups to examine ways forward
15:25 Feedback from Groups
15:40 Feedback on Day
15:45 Close
* This programme was correct at the time of publication but may be altered to reflect speaker changes that are beyond our control.
