Final Conference

The main focus of the conference was on the role of local authorities, youth professionals and relevant communities. The goal is to portray from a variety of perspectives the ways to understand, recognise and react to islamist radicalisation. Special attention was paid to training options for street-level professionals.

The RecoRa final conference was free of admission fees for invitees and translated simultaneously in English, Dutch and German.

Please note that the final conference has already taken place.

Final Program

Location:

Amsterdam City Hall
Amstel 1, Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Thursday 27th of November 2008:

12.00

Doors open*
12.45

Opening

Mayor Job Cohen – Amsterdam

Opening speech (20kb PDF) Nederlands (Dutch)

13.00

Presentation of the RecoRa Project Partner Cities:

All partner cities inform the audience about their local situation, policy and activities. This will not be done based on separate presentations. It will be in panel form: one representative of each city on the podium and one moderator. In this dynamic setting there’s also room for interactive communication with the audience.

Project Cities: Amsterdam, Birmingham, Essen, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht
14.15

Break* and info-market**

15.00

Choice of 3 Workshops:
  1. Essen: ‘Dialogue as prevention: interethnic youth on radicalisation’ (DE/NL/EN)
  2. Birmingham: ‘Tackling the Threat of Radicalisation through alternative supply’ – Birmingham’s approach to preventing violent extremism (English)
  3. Amsterdam: ‘Recognizing and Dealing with Radicalisation: A Training for Professionals’ – Khalid Boutachekourt (English)
16.00

Break* and info-market**

16.30

Choice of 3 Workshops:
  1. Rotterdam: ‘Radicalisation Awareness Training’ Yamina Bekkali (NL/DE/EN)
  2. Utrecht: ‘A year of Salafist Education’ – Patrick Pouw (English)
  3. The Hague: ‘Quilliam's Radicalisation Awareness Programmes’ - Ghaffar Hussain (English)
17.30

End of Program

Friday 28th of November 2008:

10.00

Opening: The European Commission's counter-radicalisation policy

Andre Rizzo - European Commission
10.15

Understanding Radicalisation: Supply and Demand

Colin Mellis – Amsterdam
-- Q&A
11.00

The Attraction of Radicalism: A Personal Story
-- Q&A
11.45

The Dangers of Radicalism: A Personal Story from the United Kingdom

Shahid Butt - Birmingham
-- Q&A
12.30

Break for lunch*
13.30

Panel discussion: “Roles and Rules” -local government and radicalisation-
  • What should society expect from government in counter-radicalisation?
  • What should government expect from civil society?
  • (How) should governmental and religious ‘partners’ interact?

Participants:

  • Alan Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, Birmingham
  • Mohammed Benlafkih, Youth Worker for Streetcornerwork
  • Gert Born, Teacher and Policy Advisor for Amarantis Education Group
  • Dagmar Oudshoorn, Chair of Neighbourhoodcouncil Rotterdam-Feijenoord
  • Mashuq Ally, Head of Equality and Diversity for Birmingham City Council
14.30

Break*
14.50

In and Out of Islamism: A Personal Story with Recommendations

Maajid Nawaz – Quilliam Foundation
-- Q&A
15.45

Presentation of the RecoRa solution matrix

Yousiff Meah – City of Birmingham: Preventing Violent Extremism
-- Q&A
16.30

Closing remarks

Maureen Sarucco - Director Public Order, Safety and Security, Amsterdam

* Prayer facility available. Halal catering available.

** Information-market: each Partner city will man a ‘market stall/table/booth’ with info on interesting programs or policies.

See also:

more information: Pieter Jan van Slooten Hassan al-Ghazi