Countering Violent ExtremismAttorney-General’s DepartmentFRSA Conference

Nicola Powell

Presentation Overview

• The current environment and rationale for CVE policy

• Whole of government approach

• Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

• Understanding ‘violent extremism’ and ‘radicalisation’

• Challenging terrorist propaganda

• CVE Intervention Programs

• Empowering communities

Current environment

• Approximately 290 Australians either fighting or supporting extremist groups.

• At least 120 are currently fighting or engaged in terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.

• At least 32 and up to 43 Australians are reported to have been killed.

• Over 170 are in Australia.

• Over 30 foreign fighters have returned to Australia.

• There are currently over 400 high-priority counter-terrorism investigations underway,

double the number at beginning of 2014.

• Over 25,000 foreign fighters (4,500 from Western countries) have travelled to the

region to join terror groups.

Rationale for CVE Policy

• Operational agencies do not have the capacity/capability to monitor individuals

• This does not address the individuals who pose a risk of undertaking violent acts in the future

• The early signs of radicalisation can lead to eventual violence if there is no action to intervene

• CVE = early-intervention approaches to managing the risk of terrorism

• ‘CVE’ refers to the many layers of ‘safety nets’ that can reduce the number of people who become willing to support or engage in acts of violent extremism

The Australian Government’s approach

Our visionAustralia’s CVE efforts are aimed at reducing the risk of home-grown terrorism by strengthening Australia’s resilience to radicalisation and assisting individuals to disengage from violent extremist influences and beliefs.

Australia’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Challenging Violent Extremist Ideologies

• Limiting the spread and influence of violent extremist ideas.

• Disrupting terrorist media activities online• Takedown of websites • Providing alternative content - Filling the Void

Challenging terrorist propaganda

The problem• The online environment has no borders

• Approximately 100,000 pieces of Daesh propaganda are distributed daily.

• Twitter – at least 46,000 active accounts each with average 1,000 followers.

• Australia’s efforts includes multifaceted to:

• Undermine the appeal of terrorist propaganda

[strategic communications & leadership messaging, counter narratives, alternative narratives]

• Limit access to extremist material

• Understand extremist narratives and their impact on Australians

The communications challenge The Islamist extremist narrative speaks of a ‘State of War’ between the West and Islam, which tells Australian Muslims ‘you don’t belong, you can’t succeed, you can’t fit in.’

Once a person begins to interpret events through this lens, Daesh offers four key things (pillars of its brand)

• Justice for Sunnis: Daesh claims its success is helping Sunnis overcome historical persecution and mistreatment. It claims to represent a true version of Islam and rejects Shia and other belief systems.

• Belonging: Daesh offers a sense of belonging, purpose, brotherhood and adventure that they claim cannot be obtained in Australia.

• Achievement: Daesh and its supporters claim a continuous promotion of tactical successes. • A better future: Daesh claims to have founded a Caliphate, a true Jihadist utopia. They claim

that individuals and their families will be rewarded financially and spiritually for their actions on behalf of Daesh.

Stopping People from Becoming Radicalised

• Assisting at-risk individuals though intervention programs

• Addressing drivers of radicalisation• Providing resources and training to frontline

professionals (teachers, police, social workers)

Effective Response and Recovery

• Maintaining capability to respond to a terrorist incident • Coordination between the Commonwealth and

States/Territories in the event of an incident : Note State and Territories lead as first respondents

• Assistance in the event of overseas attacks• Commonwealth support for recovery to State/Territory

Governments, industry and business• Ensuring the physical and psycho-social wellbeing to

recover from an incident

Violent extremism

What is violent extremism?

Violent extremism is the beliefs and

actions of people who decide that

fear, terror and violence are justified

to achieve ideological, political or

social change. This includes terrorism

and other forms of politically

motivated and communal violence.

All forms of violent extremism seek change through fear and intimidation rather than through peaceful means.

Individuals, families, communities and local institutions are often best placed to identify signs of when something is wrong. It is important we work together to challenge violent extremism.

Understanding radicalisation

The radicalisation process

Radicalisation usually involves significant behavioural changes in 3 areas of a person’s life:

1. Ideology

2. Social relations

3. Criminal activity

Signs you might see…• Becoming increasingly intolerant of different points of

view• Increasing strict and literal understanding of their

beliefs.• Increasingly using ideological language that vilifies or

discriminates against others.• Using the internet to view, download and spread

material promoting violent ideologies.• They may pull away from their usual friendship groups

and activities.• There may be increasing conflict with family and

friends over political or ideological views.• They may interact more with a small tight-knit group

who share their beliefs.• They may start to ‘act up’ to draw attention to their

beliefs or send a message to a specific group, this might include actions like vandalism, property damage, trespassing or protesting in an illegal way.

Some signs are so subtle that you may only see them if you know the person well.

Individual

Social

IdeologyCriminal Behaviour

Understanding radicalisation

Understanding radicalisation

What to do if you are concerned?A positive relationship and open communication can often be an effective intervention.

Encourage family and friends to maintain open communication.

Even if you disagree with what they are saying, it is important to let them know they are accepted.

Try to understand their perspective, situation and motivation as this may help to work out what type of intervention might work.

Interventions• Early intervention is best• Connect them with role models, mentors and

peers who are a positive influence• Training or further education• Help them find employment• Engage them in social activities• Involve respected leaders to provide guidance• Help them develop critical thinking skills• Encourage them to participate in intellectual

discussions with people from a wide range of beliefs

• Counselling• Find ways for them to contribute in a positive

way to their communityResourcesInformation sheets and a guidance booklet on what is radicalisation and what you can do to help is available at www.livingsafetogether.gov.au

Intervention Programs

• Intervention Programs are in place or being developed in every State and Territory.

• Each jurisdiction determines appropriate structures and mechanisms for delivering its own Intervention Program, including where the coordination role sits.

• Program coordination includes establishing and maintaining a

multi-agency panel – conducts risk assessments and needs analyses for individuals referred to the program.

Service mapping

Psychological counselling

Referral to Services(government or community services)

For example…

Sporting programs

Develop Intervention Plan

Assign Case Manager(either community-based or govt agency)

Youth groups

Cultural mentoring Employment programs Education support

Spiritual counselling Religious mentoring Faith based youth camps

Vocational training Life skills coaching Rehabilitation programs

Services Directory Building community capacity

Empowering communities

Preventing violent extremismThe best way to build resilience to radicalisation is through well-informed and well-equipped families, communities and local institutions.

The living safe together website is our primary platform for sharing information, it includes:

• Information about radicalisation• Guidance on where to go for help• Stories and blogs• Educational resource kits• Downloadable information sheets, including

some in a number of other languages.

We encourage community organisations to submit stories about the work they are doing. www.livingsafetogther.gov.au

Education and Training

• Radicalisation Awareness Information Package

• AMF Community Awareness Training Manual

• AMF student mentoring program

• Frontline police CVE/ CT awareness training

• Frontline professionals (teachers, social workers, etc) training

• Dury’s Out Education Kit for schools

• CVE intervention assessment tools (Radar) - advanced training

• Radicalisation & Extremism Awareness Program for corrections staff

www.livingsafetogther.gov.au

Where to go for more information

Contact the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Branch in the Attorney-General’s Department or

visit the Living Safe Together website

Email: livingsafetogether@ag.gov.au

Web: www.livingsafetogether.gov.au