training is important, not only to maintain and improve the existing knowledge of prison
staff, but also to ensure they are made aware of changes to policy and practice, including
445
new developments in good practice.
All staff working within facilities where there are (suspected) violent extremist prisoners
should also be adequately trained on VERLT-related issues before entering duty and
446
throughout their service. This should also include at least a general awareness or, where
required, more advanced training on the phenomenon and dynamics of radicalization
leading to terrorism or violence, the conditions conducive to it in prisons, the human
rights risks arising in preventing and countering VERLT in prisons, and general education
measures to promote political, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity and sensitivity,
447
tolerance and non-discrimination. In all of this training it is important to sensitize staff
to the wide spectrum of violent extremist ideologies (including not only religious but
also extreme right or ethno-nationalist motivations). The level of specialization of such
training will depend on the tasks required and exposure to (suspected) violent extremist
448
prisoners.
It is particularly important that staff involved in the application of VERLT-related indicators
or risk assessment tools, for example, are sensitized to the potential impact of implicit
biases and wrongful classification, as well as the inherent limitations and risks of any
indicator system or assessment tool.
The implementation of reintegration and disengagement programmes requires adequate
training of both the staff directly involved in such programmes and other people working in
449
prisons, in order to avoid any actions that may undermine their success. All courses on
radicalization to terrorism or violence have to be carefully designed and based on evidence
to clarify any misconceptions on the process of VERLT that may reinforce stereotypes
against certain groups of prisoners or lead to undue interference with prisoners’ human
450
rights, as previously highlighted.
445 ODIHR & PRI, Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela Rules, op. cit., note 10, Chapter 1, para. 214.
446 The OSCE Presence in Albania, for example, developed a Training Basic Manual and conducted training
of prison and probation staff on P/CVERLT-related issues. Overview on the project “Preventing and
Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism in prisons and within probation
services (Phase I),” 2017.
447 Council of Europe, “Council of Europe Handbook”, op. cit., note 2, paras. 175-176; UNODC, Handbook
on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization to Violence in
Prisons, op. cit., note 2, p. 30; EU RAN, “Dealing with Radicalization in a Prison and Probation Context:
Practitioners Working Paper”, op. cit., note 150, p. 4; GCTF, “Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for
Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders” op. cit., note 174, good practice 5.
448 See, e.g., EU RAN, “Approaches to Countering Radicalization and Dealing with Violent Extremist and
Terrorist Offenders in Prisons and Probation”, op. cit., note 80, pp. 17-19.
449 Council of Europe, “Council of Europe Handbook”, op. cit., note 2, para. 177; UNODC, Handbook on the
Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization to Violence in Prisons,
op. cit., note 2, p. 31. For details on the importance of inserting information about laws and policies on
rehabilitation programs in prison operation manuals, internal policies and procedures, and correctional
training curriculum see: GCTF, “Initiative to Address the Life Cycle of Radicalization to Violence”.
450 See human rights risk area 1 for further details. See also, Council of Europe, “Council of Europe Handbook”,
op. cit., note 2, para. 175.b. Examples of training programmes on radicalization to terrorism or violence
include those being implemented in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The
Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. For information on relevant
programmes in these and other countries in the European Union, see: EU RAN, “Preventing Radicalization
to Terrorism and Violent Extremism Prison and Probation Interventions”, 2019.
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