Countries across the OSCE area are focusing increased attention on how to operationalize a “whole-of-society” approach to the challenge of preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalism that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT), an approach that emphasizes the importance of multisector, multidisciplinary, and multilevel collaboration. Referral mechanisms for addressing violence and extremism that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in the non-criminal space are seen as a key ingredient of this approach.

The guide elaborates on key considerations and challenges that policymakers and practitioners are likely to encounter should they decide to move forward and develop these programmes; the guide also discusses some of the potential negative consequences of such mechanisms, keeping in mind the need to respect the principle of “do no harm”. These considerations include (1) building support from the community whose participation in and engagement with the mechanism will be critical to its effectiveness and sustainability; (2) focusing on behaviours that can lead to VERLT and not on legally protected beliefs and ideas; (3) avoiding stigmatizing a particular religious or ethnic group; (4) delineating an appropriate role for law enforcement, particularly given the risks of inappropriately criminalizing individuals referred to a mechanism that is designed for those who have not committed a crime; (5) navigating social norms and attitudes around psychosocial care, which typically forms an integral component of referral mechanisms; and (6) building on existing institutional capacities among a diverse array of agencies and organizations not geared specifically to P/CVERLT and coping with the challenges presented when such capacities and expertise are limited.

Drawing from the relevant experiences across the OSCE area and lessons learned from referral mechanisms outside of the P/CVERLT space (e.g., mechanisms focused on human trafficking, gender-based violence, or protecting vulnerable children), this guide highlights some benefits that referral mechanisms, if properly developed, can offer. These include providing a concerned family or other community member with an option other than calling the police when they suspect an individual may be at risk of or vulnerable to becoming radicalized to extremist violence; and incentivizing the involvement of psychosocial care providers and other non–law enforcement professionals who might otherwise be reluctant to engage in politically sensitive VERLT cases.