The General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Bulgaria hosted an international seminar on Radicalisation in Prison and Probation Services in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  The theme of the seminar was “Different Approaches to Prevent and Counter Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in Prison and Probation Services – Challenges and Perspectives”.

The gathering was initiated within the framework of the TRAin TRAINING Project (Transfer Radicalisation Approaches in Training ), funded by the Justice Programme of the European Union, and applied in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of Italy and the Judicial Training Institute of Belgium (IGO).

The focus of the event was aimed at:

• sharing of knowledge and good practices about the different approaches for prevention and countering radicalisation and violent extremism in prison and probation services;
• the role of the staff;
• challenges and perspectives;
• the international judicial framework and the link between the management of the radicalised offenders, and the human rights.

The seminar was opened by Mr Rozalin Petkov – Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv Municipality, Bulgaria, Prof Nikolay Prodanov – Deputy Minister of Justice, Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs Carla CIavarella, Director of General Affairs and International Relations, General Training Directorate, Italian Penitentiary Administration, and Chief Commissioner Vasil Miladinov, Director General of the General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Bulgaria. The event was attended by 75 delegates from various countries and institutions.

The speakers of the conference highlighted some important issues:

• the general increase of the radicalised offenders, especially within the juveniles;
• the lack of individual approach and adequate programmes to the radicalised offenders;
• the need of changes in the legislation;
• the absence of qualified and trained staff;
• there isn’t appropriate environment to work with these type of offenders;
• the role of the society in accepting those who have passed the de-radicalisation programmes;
• application of the human rights and the minimum standards of living;
• probably the most important – the urging need of sharing knowledge and best practices.

The International Corrections and Prisons Association was represented by Board Member, Mr Pedro das Neves. He conveyed a speech written by the President of ICPA – Mr Peter van der Sande. Mr das Neves talked about the purpose of ICPA, its aims, vison, mission and values, and how they lay in the principles of preventing and tackling radicalism and violent extremism. Stressing the need for international cooperation he remarked on the involvement of ICPA with the R2Pris, INTEGRA, R4JUST and FAIRNESS Projects – all related to the topic of radicalisation, and appealed for future collaborations to be effective in our fight against violent extremism.

The event took place between 5 and 6 June 2019.

Published on: 01/07/2019