The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) regularly conducts visits to Member States on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in order to monitor, facilitate and promote their implementation of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). The visits are conducted with the consent of the host State and in accordance with the Committee’s framework document for visits to Member States. In accordance with this mandate, CTED conducted a follow-up visit to the Republic of Finland from 9 to 11 April 2019.
As part of their visit, the UN CTED conducted an evaluation of Finland’s counter-terrorism measures and PVE measures. This report evaluates current practice and benchmarks of several practices of Finland to inform UN member states. As part of the evaluation, Finn Church Aid and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers’ Reach Out programming is highlighted as part of the reported best practice under Finland’s National Action Plan for the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Extremism, in which the Network and FCA contributed. The Reach Out Programme addresses the needs of families and individuals affected by radicalization and extremism and aims to ensure that a radicalized individual is not left without appropriate support.
FCA and Network support international, national and local partners from grass roots community-based organisations to authorities and institutional partners to advance Human Rights based and community centred approaches and peace-building technics as an integrated part of the efforts to prevent violent extremism and support those directly affected. In Finland FCA and network are official partners in implementing Finland’s national action plan for prevention of violent extremism 2019-23. Please see more here.
FCA and the Network are currently implementing Reach Out 3, which expands upon previous work on prevention of violent radicalization and extremism Finland and Europe: Reach Out (2016-2017) and Reach Out 2 (2017-2019). Specifically, Reach Out 3 is reporting on best practices and recommendation for future work for policymakers and community of practice. As outcome the project will develop tools and materials, that support timely community based referral for families affected to support services. This project is implemented in collaboration with four cooperation cities in Finland: Helsinki, Turku, Tampere and Oulu.