The major reasons for establishing the Network for Deradicalisation and Prevention in 2014 included increasing tendencies of radicalisation and extremism among young people and young adults. This included an increasingly aggressive internationally networked jihadist Islamism, a simultaneously growing anti-Semitism, and increasing hostility towards Muslims and towards the West.
The administration of the City of Vienna was faced with the challenge that many of its organisations within and outside the city administration (e.g. youth work, police, school administration, refugee services) dealt with the issues of radicalisation and prevention in different ways. Even though there was a lot of expertise in their specific fields of activity there was hardly any cooperation among them, let alone an effort to look at the bigger picture. This problem was eliminated by introducing a new, systematically structured and closely-knit network of practitioners in this field.
The Children’s and Youth Ombuds Office was charged with taking the lead in establishing the network. The Ombuds Office, which has the legal mandate to protect children’s rights, was particularly well-suited for this task for several reasons. On the one hand, it is embedded in the city administration and is thus in close touch with the city’s leading decision makers in administration and politics. On the other hand, it is an independent body and is therefore not bound to undergo lengthy consultation processes with superior authorities. Moreover, the issues of radicalisation and prevention to a high degree concern young people and young adults and it is particularly effective to direct preventive measures to these age groups. Finally, given the nature of its task of protecting children’s rights, the Children’s and Youth Ombuds Office maintains excellent contacts with the child and youth welfare service, the school sector, the police, and with youth work and other organisations dealing with radicalisation issues.
Currently, representatives of the organisational units forming part of the network hold competence centre meetings every six weeks. These meetings serve to exchange and coordinate knowledge, report on current developments and develop further training measures for those involved (e.g. police officers, youth workers, teachers). This includes discussing preventive measures for target groups at risk – especially children and young people – launching and initiating information campaigns, and discussing current individual cases.
Within the last few years, the network has developed more than 50 large and small packages of measures (further training, prevention, information), which have directly reached thousands of children, young people and adults. The spectrum ranges from theatre pedagogical projects for pupils on the issues of participation and prevention, to training modules on radicalisation for police officers and street workers, to expert conferences on these issues. In addition, the network members are in direct contact with each other and can also consult outside competence centre meetings, for example to obtain the other network partners’ help with acute challenges.
Furthermore, the network advises the city’s political and administrative decision makers, both at regular steering group meetings and when required, as for example in the event of riots, which are fortunately very rare in the city.