to the presumption of innocence and may affect their court cases. Nevertheless, pre406 trial detainees should have the opportunity to work if they wish to do so and, where feasible and appropriate, to participate in activities, rather than languishing in their cells; 407 this is crucial for their well-being and humane treatment. 405 Coerced participation and the imperative of informed consent In order to encourage prisoners to participate in interventions, prison authorities use incentives, such as increased out-of-cell activities and additional items allowed in their possession. These incentives should be similar to those offered to the general prison population. Otherwise, it could be discriminatory or create a privileged status for these prisoners and be perceived negatively by the rest of the prison population. Furthermore, it could unwillingly incentivize prisoners to declare themselves to be violent extremists, or even to join violent extremist groups in prison. Participation in activities or disengagement from VERLT interventions should be voluntary 408 and based on the principle of informed consent. Detainees should be able to give and withdraw their consent to participate at any time. Prisoners should also be fully informed of the objectives, who will be involved, their role, the modalities of the interventions and rules of confidentiality with regard to the sharing of information provided by participants within and outside the interventions team. Reluctance or resistance to participate in disengagement programmes should not result in disciplinary measures and must not lead to the deprivation of basic needs, as this 409 may constitute ill-treatment. Forcible measures would be counterproductive and may reinforce, rather than reduce or end, engagement in VERLT. Infringements on freedom of opinion and freedom of thought, conscience and religion Early efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism began with so-called “exit programmes” to tackle right-wing extremism, but efforts to prevent and counter VERLT now often focus largely on religiously motivated violent extremism, therefore targeting 410 groups on religious grounds in a discriminatory manner. Against this background, careful consideration should be given to the content of faith-based interventions in prisons and 405 The presumption of innocence is guaranteed under ICCPR, op. cit., note 85, Article 14; see also: UN Nelson Mandela Rules, op. cit., note 13, Rule 111.3; 406 UN Nelson Mandela Rules, ibid., Rule 116. 407 UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, “Interim report”, A/68/295, 9 August 2013, para. 38; “2nd General Report on the CPT’s Activities”, CPT, CPT/Inf(92) 3, Strasbourg, 13 April 1992, para. 46. 408 Certain programmes may be mandatory as part of a mitigated sentence or a precondition for early release, for instance. 409 UN Nelson Mandela Rules, op. cit., note 13, Rules 6-10 and 42; UNODC, Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization to Violence in Prisons, op. cit., note 2, pp. 104-105; ICRC, “Radicalization in Detention – the ICRC’s Perspective”, op. cit., note 134, p. 3. 410 Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism, op. cit., note 108, para. 6 and para. 28. 82