National Action Plan to Combat Extremism

The federal Action Plan is part of Switzerland's counterterrorism strategy, in which prevention is crucial. The action plan makes an important contribution to this: it promotes interdisciplinary action at all levels of our state against radicalization and violent extremism. It thus creates the conditions for identifying and countering radicalization and violent extremism in all their forms. To this end, it specifically bundles the efforts that are already being made in this area today.

Unanimously adopted

The action plan has been jointly developed by the Confederation, cantons, cities and municipalities since September 2016 under the leadership of the delegate of the Swiss Security Network (SVS). The presidiums of the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (KKJPD), the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK), the Conference of Cantonal Social Directors (SODK), and the Swiss Association of Cities and the Swiss Association of Municipalities unanimously adopted the action plan on November 24, 2017.

The Federal Council took note of the Action Plan at its meeting on December 1, 2017 and announced its intention to adopt a five-year impulse program to give the necessary impetus to the implementation of the Action Plan by the relevant bodies in the cantons, cities and municipalities. The impulse program is intended to deploy a total of CHF 5 million, which can be used to support projects initiated by the cantonal and municipal levels as well as civil society.

26 measures in five fields of action

The 26 measures are intended to work in five fields of action: 1. knowledge and expertise, 2. cooperation and coordination, 3. prevention of extremist ideas and groups, 4. exit and reintegration, and 5. international cooperation.

The NAP is guided by the basic idea that institutionalized interdisciplinary cooperation is the most important element for effective prevention. It ensures the networking of the relevant actors and facilitates joint action. The Action Plan also recommends the following:

• It is recommended that, depending on the size and function of a canton, municipality or city, specialist offices be designated that are available to local authorities or affected individuals and relatives for advice and to impart knowledge (Measure 10).
• Professionals from the educational, social and youth sectors, as well as police and prison staff, should be sensitized to the issues of radicalization and violent extremism. They should be offered appropriate training and continuing education. They should recognize signs and dangers of radicalization at an early stage and act accordingly (measure 2). If necessary, they should be able to turn to a specialist unit.

Involvement of civil society

• Civil society is also involved in prevention. Those responsible for sports, cultural and leisure clubs can be made aware of the issue through information and training by their national associations or by cantonal and municipal authorities (measure 5).
• It also makes sense to develop teaching aids and pedagogical materials as well as projects on the topics of radicalization and violent extremism for the school and extracurricular sector, and to exchange information on existing projects and materials (measure 9). Important: Neither teachers nor sports coaches, who play an important role in the personal development of people, should be left alone in this challenge. They should be able to turn to specialists for support.

Threat management and reintegration setup

• Another recommendation concerns the establishment of a cross-agency and cross-institutional cantonal threat management system. This should be managed by the police and enable the potential threat posed by individuals or groups already known to the police to be identified at an early stage. Suitable instruments should make it possible to correctly assess the threat potential and to defuse it with suitable measures (measure 14).
• To promote exit and reintegration, a catalog of measures is drawn up according to an interdisciplinary approach. In addition, it is recommended that each canton designate a competent authority for the care of radicalized persons outside of criminal proceedings and the penal system (measures 21 and 22).

National coordination

• The SVS coordinates the transfer of knowledge and experience together with the conferences and associations involved. It promotes networking among the actors of all three levels of government and coordinates the annual monitoring of the implementation of the measures (measure 16). The National Action Plan should be implemented and evaluated within five years.

Continuing and integrating what already exists

The measures of the National Action Plan should also be considered in combination with the already existing measures, programs and initiatives of universal, selective and indicated prevention in the fields of education, social affairs, integration, prevention of violence and crime, and anti-discrimination. Throughout Switzerland and at all levels of government, many important preventive efforts are already underway. These efforts should be continued, disseminated more widely and complemented with the measures of the National Action Plan.

Source: Confederation