HOPE project’s Transnational Thematic Workshop in Ljubljana
HOPE Network members gathered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to discuss the country’s particular challenges with radicalisation and violent extremism, including youth radicalisation and Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) transit.
The workshop gathered more than 40 practitioners and policymakers to understand how the country’s historical and sociological settings led to its current P/CVE and counter-terrorism approaches and how they intertwine with the prison setting.
Despite the official low level threat in the country, the Slovenian prison setting has been dealing with radicalisation for over two decades now.
To better grasp the current risk situation in the country, a Slovenian representative explained that despite ranking low in the threat level, Slovenia has been deeply affected by the environment felt in Southern Eastern Europe. The expert alerted to new hybrid threats, as the transit of FTFs and the poorly explored link between mental health and radicalisation have been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Daniela Pisoiu, senior researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, marked the need for a local approach by strengthening local institutions and promoting trust and counter-narratives.
In the community setting, Ms Katarina Vucko, from the Slovenian CSO The Peace Institute, explained how CSOs work in the P/CVE field in Slovenia. She highlighted the lack of specific organisations to deal with the problem. It became clear how organisations that work with broader phenomena, such as migration and minorities’ rights, often find themselves working to prevent radicalisation.
The HOPE Radicalisation Network online hub provides more information about the important discussions that were at the core of the project’s Transnational Thematic Workshops and beyond. By joining HOPE’s network, members can follow project initiatives closely, access hundreds of relevant resources, and network with experts and organisations worldwide.
For more information about the workshop read the article “A holistic understanding of the Slovenian Justice context” and visit the HOPE project website.
