4.3 Mission in Kosovo Assessment (SOCTA) report in line with Europol standards. At the same time, it marks the final activity of a twoyear project aimed at enhancing the operational criminal intelligence and proactive capabilities of the KP and the Albanian State Police (ASP). From 24 to 27 April, the Mission facilitated a workshop to provide 12 intelligence analysts of the KP and ASP with advanced expert support, in line with the Europol standards. This workshop builds on capacity-building, assistance related to the SOCTA, which the Mission has supported over the last several years. The workshop enhanced participants’ skills in development of the SOCTA methodology. It covered topics such as strategy and planning, EU police cycle against serious and organized crime, intelligence-led policing (ILP) and analysis and task-planning and co-ordination. Overall, this activity was deemed highly beneficial by participants, and enhanced the capacities of both police services on strategic crime analysis and threat assessment, as well as their cooperation on activities related to combating serious and organized crime. On 18 May, the Mission supported the KP in facilitating the final workshop to review the implementation of ILP Strategy and Action Plan 2013-2017. The workshop gathered a working group, consisting of senior police officers, the Mission’s representatives and international partners that assisted in its implementation. It provided an opportunity to examine the achievements of the KP against this strategy over the past four years in this area. Counter-Terrorism and P/C VERLT In close co-operation with International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and ICITAP, the Mission co-hosted the workshop “Strong Cities Countering Violent Extremism in Kosovo” on 6 and 7 March, in Pejë/Peč. Participants included 45 representatives of religious groups, civil society, local and central level officials and police, all working to strengthen resilience in municipalities and contribute to the implementation of legal framework in P/C VERLT. Representatives of nine municipalities14 that recently became members of the Strong Cities Network also attended, which is the first global network of mayors and municipallevel policy makers united in efforts to counter violent extremism. During discussions, special attention was given to further strengthening the referral mechanism in Gjilan/ Gnjilane as a pilot project, its co-operation with existing local safety forums, as well as to the prospect of creating new referral mechanisms. The workshop also emphasised further support at the local level in relation to prevention of violent 14 66 The nine municipalities that recently became members of the Strong Cities Network are: Ferizaj/Uroševac, Gjakovë/Djakovica, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Kaçanik/Kačanik, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Pejë/Peć, Prishtinë/Priština, Prizren and Vushtrri/Vučitrn. extremism, the de-radicalization process and re-integration, concluding with recommendations for local and central level. From 23 to 24 May, the Mission organized a workshop on using the Internet and social media to counter VERLT, for representatives of the KP, MoIA, university students, religious groups and journalists. The workshop provided participants with guidance on different Internet platforms and social media, and enhanced their capacities to identify and counter extremist narratives with positive, alternative narratives. It also focused on how to report improper or illegal content, either to the Internet platform providers, or to the police. Moreover, the police representative acquainted participants with legislation that covers inciting national, racial, religious or ethnic hatred, discord or intolerance. From 19 to 21 June, the Mission delivered the first ToT on P/C VERLT to 32 police women engaged in investigation and community policing sectors. The training aimed to emphasize the important role of women in P/C VERLT, through enhanced communication skills with residents. Participants learned about the legal framework related to P/C VERLT and religious-sensitive narratives to help counter ideological and violent extremist ones. Participants learned to identify narratives that can lead to radicalization, as well as ways to address and reintegrate returnees and their family members in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner. Finally, participants were familiarized with the strategy on prevention of VERLT, which specifies the important role that women can play in early identification, in the capacity of a parent, friend or police officer on and off duty. On 23 June, the Mission supported the facilitation of an expert roundtable on the role and empowerment of women in P/C VERLT. The event gathered 42 participants consisting of women police officers, representatives of MoIA, civil society, media, religious groups, Mission and ICITAP. The roundtable panels provided a forum for discussion on the involvement of women in P/C VERLT, their role in early identification, the role of media and new technology, as well as that of local and international institutions and organizations in empowering women to counter VERLT. The roundtable also emphasised that all members of society, irrespective of their social status, have an obligation to safeguard, prevent, and contribute to local level efforts to address drivers of violent extremism. From 10 to 13 September, the Mission participated in the workshop to draft the Strategy against Terrorism and Action Plan 2018-2022, organized by the MoIA and facilitated by the US Embassy. Representatives of MoIA, the Special Prosecution Office, KP, Customs, Kosovo Security Council Secretariat (KSCS) and FIU, alongside international partners including the Mission, took part in this workshop

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