Launch of Prisoner Classification & Risks Assessment Tool & Manual for Countering Violent Extremism in Prison

Thank you and good morning,

It gives me great pleasure to be at this event…

Terrorism continues to present a serious threat to international peace and security, affecting many UN Member States, their populations and their socio-economic development. Within the UN framework on counter-terrorism, through its 19 universal instruments, Security Council resolutions and Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, the UN supports member states on universal different challenges and approaches applicable to counter-terrorism efforts at the international, regional and national levels.

Radicalization and the threat of terrorism is a growing concern for the Maldives and prisons have been identified as breeding grounds for radicalization. Prisons, albeit insular spaces, are not isolated from the society and prisons remain a part of community through the multiple transactions between prisons and communities. The vast majority of people committed to prison eventually returns to the wider society, including Violent Extremist Prisoners. Thus, prisons can be viewed as reservoirs of societal issues in multiple contexts. Imprisonment disrupts relationships and weakens social cohesion, since the maintenance of such cohesion is based on long-term relationships. In turn, long-term relationships in prison fostered around charismatic leaders with radical and violent extremist ideology risks the proliferation of radicalization to the broader prison population and to the community upon their release.

Therefore, investing in prison reform, in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, male, female, adult and juveniles and special categories of prisoners, through rehabilitation interventions built around their individualized needs, be it substance use treatment, psychosocial and mental health support, and faith-based learning, during their period of incarceration supports their positive reintegration into the community.

The Strategic Action plan 2019-2023 of the Government of Maldives in preventing and countering terrorist acts, identifies rule of law and prison reform as national developmental targets and priorities for the five-year period, prioritising the need to increase the competency and capacity of law enforcement agencies.

Gender responsive, rights-based and accountable governance and justice is the fourth Outcome area under the new United Nations Cooperation Framework agreed with the Government of Maldives for the next five years. In line with this framework, interconnected issues of youth extremism, gender inequality and violence against women will be addressed by supporting the judiciary, justice, law enforcement and legal sector institutions to strengthen professional capacities in judicial awareness and education for women and vulnerable groups from a rights perspective. As the Maldives moves forward towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, stronger national institutions are crucial to countering serious crimes such as terrorism and violent extremism in the Maldives.

Prison reform is necessary to ensure that the principle of human rights of prisoners protected and their prospects for social reintegration increased, in compliance with relevant international standards and norms. Recognizing the important role of respect for the Rule of Law and fundamental human rights in effective counter-terrorism measures, through a comprehensive and tailored approach for sustainability of results and impact of its interventions, UNODC provides expertise to national law agencies to build their capacity to respond to such threats, including assistance in prison reform and the management of prisons and places of detention, in line with the international standards and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Nelson Mandela Rules.

I congratulate the Government of Maldives and the Correctional Service on the development of the Prisoner Classification and Risks Assessment Tool and the Manual for Countering Violent Extremism in Prison, important milestones for the Maldives Correctional Service. It is my pleasure to note that these tools and manuals have been gender mainstreamed and developed within the principle of leaving no one behind, to address the needs of the most marginalized and vulnerable. I take this opportunity to thank the European Union, with whose generous support this activity was possible.

An effective prisoner classification and risks assessment tool will greatly contribute to evaluate and segregate differing levels of radicalization to prevent wider contamination within the prison environment. More importantly, the interventions outlined in the tools are aimed at the development of programmes to reinforce alternate narratives to prevent violent extremism ideology proliferating within prison settings, and support rehabilitation and reintegration pathways of prisoners, by encouraging partnerships and engagement with community leaders on islands that will have returning prisoners reintegrate with the island community.

The UN remains steadfast in its cooperation with the Government of Maldives in its efforts to combat violent extremism and provide expertise and tools to national agencies to effectively address the threat of terrorism, through investments in the individuals, focused on their rehabilitation and reintegration. This remains a core priority of the UN’s plans for the next five years as outlined in the agreed UN Cooperation Framework with the Government of the Maldives.

Thank you