programmes and the environment in which they will be released. The risk and needs
assessment should form the basis of whether and what kind of disengagement from
VERLT programmes should be offered to prisoners. In any event, interventions should be
guided by the “do no harm” principle, to ensure they do not have a negative effect on the
383
rights of those targeted.
382
Efforts to support prisoners in withdrawing from VERLT require a holistic approach across a
variety of disciplines and must be delivered by multidisciplinary teams who are adequately
384
recruited, vetted and trained. These teams may include religious representatives,
psychologists, social workers, healthcare professionals, sports instructors and art
therapists. It is beneficial if they reflect the gender, linguistic and ethnic background of
385
individuals they will work with. Community members, family members, CSOs, former
violent extremists and, sometimes, victims of terrorist acts may be involved on a caseby-case basis. They may be perceived by prisoners as more independent, legitimate,
credible and/or competent in their area. Support from community members and family
386
may be essential to ensuring a smooth reintegration of prisoners upon release. One-to387
one mentoring programmes are also offered in some countries.
Attention to rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for (suspected) violent extremist
prisoners may require investment. At the same time, the ICRC has warned against a
situation where such attention “results in other groups of detainees receiving neither the
humane and dignified minimum, nor the necessary management and staff attention”. This
may lead to increased risks of human rights violations, including ill-treatment and torture,
388
as well as to potential new threats to security and safety.
Record-keeping assists with assessing the effectiveness of interventions and progress
made, with ensuring the continuity of activities and treatment, and with adapting them as
necessary, based on the needs and circumstances of prisoners, including their mental
389
health needs. Information regarding prisoners’ participation in work, various activities
and in disengagement from VERLT programmes should, therefore, be entered in their
382 UNODC, Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization
to Violence in Prisons, op. cit., note 2, pp. 70 and 75.
383 Ibid., pp. 102-103.
384 UN Security Council, Resolution 2396 (2017), S/RES/2396 (2017), para. 32: “Underscores the importance
of a whole of government approach and recognizes the role civil society organizations can play, including
in the health, social welfare and education sectors in contributing to the rehabilitation and reintegration of
returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters and their families”
385 UNODC, Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization
to Violence in Prisons, op. cit., note 2, pp. 100-101.
386 In Austria, NEUSTART runs a programme called social net conferencing that “offers offenders in prison the
chance to develop a mandatory plan for their future after their release. Offenders work together with their
social network (or net) to create this plan, which is then sent to the judge, who issues orders according
to the plan, at the trial. The probation officer supervises compliance with the orders and, therefore, also
implementation of the plan.”
387 UNODC, Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization
to Violence in Prisons, op. cit., note 2, pp. 77-78.
388 ICRC, “Radicalization in Detention – the ICRC’s Perspective”, op. cit., note 134, p. 5.
389 UNODC, Handbook on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization
to Violence in Prisons, op. cit., note 2, pp. 101-103; Council of Europe, “Council of Europe Handbook”, op.
cit., note 2, para. 101.
79
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