Developing local networks:
The experience from Vilvoorde
Jessika Soors
Policy coordinator radicalization and polarization
This is Vilvoorde
• 42 000 inhabitants
• Demographic expansion 1,5%
• 25% non-Belgian origins
• Minors 40%
• High unemployment rate
• High rate of school drop out and backlog
• Shortage of public infrastructure
• Proximity of Brussels and Antwerp
• Sociologically one
• Metropolitan problems
Mechelen 25/2/2016
Current situation
• 28 FF
• 3 minors
• 8 died
• 1 minor
• 8 returnees
• 1 currently living in Vilvoorde
• Group at risk: 69 persons
• 30 minors
Mechelen 25/2/2016
Local policy
• There was little existing (infra-)structure to
make use of
•
Challenge/opportunity
• When creating new initiatives: what will we
label prevention of radicalisation?
Mechelen 25/2/2016
Local policy
“A plan for warmth and safety”
Recognized since May 2014
– Countering Violent Extremism
• Prevention: broad and specific
• Group oriented
– Deradicalization
• Curative
• Person oriented
– Repression
• Only police and justice
• Independent from any social program
Mechelen
25/2/2016
CVE initiatives
• Take multiple entries to do community outreach
• Avoid one shot initiatives
• Recognise other important issues, and try to take them
into account
• Be clear about coordination
• Political support has been a success factor
Mechelen 25/2/2016
The link between prevention and intervention
• You cannot have one without the other
• Absolute transparency
•
•
•
•
About goals
About sharing information
Giving trust is receiving trust
Be aware for distrust amongst staff members
• It is a continuous effort
Mechelen
25/2/2016
Individual interventions
Partners round table
•
•
Based on social mapping
To create individual programs of support
•
•
•
Mechelen
25/2/2016
Define roles
Avoid a crowded living room
Unity of command
Final reflections
– No more departures since May 2014, BUT…
– On the right track, but still work ahead of us
• From trial and error to methodological sustainability
– Evaluation models e.g.
– Vilvoorde as a laboratory
• A lot of capacity needed
– In need of support from the above local level
• Difficult balance between repressive and social approach
– Collaboration between police and social partners
– Inclusion instead of exclusion
Mechelen
25/2/2016