A/HRC/42/42/Add.2
92.
Special consideration should be given to addressing factors that may lead to
Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in the country, with recognition given in
schools of the history and contributions of migrants to Austrian society.
93.
Similar initiatives are encouraged from civil society organizations and grassroots projects, particularly those emanating from the Muslim community. Parents
and families may also need to acquire the awareness and skills required to address the
needs of children with diverse heritage.
94.
Youth programmes and incentives, including those involving sports, arts,
education and cultural activity, can be used as vehicles to promote social inclusion and
a sense of community among young people, particularly those who may be vulnerable
to radicalization.
95.
The Government of Austria should encourage interfaith dialogue and
strengthen existing platforms where community and faith-based leaders can work
together to address and curb radicalization and violent extremism and to enhance
integration.
96.
Deradicalization should continue to be prioritized and implemented effectively
in prisons, within the framework of respect for human rights.
97.
The Working Group stresses that greater social cohesion will mitigate longterm security risks, and that providing strong support to communities and families
can lay the groundwork for the optimization of measures. In this respect, intercultural
institutions, policy and dialogue could be instrumental in building community ties,
and the Working Group recommends building on the foundations being developed in
this regard.
98.
Similarly, education has been consistently raised as a crucial vehicle for
awareness-raising and dialogue. The Working Group supports the raising of
awareness in schools and the use of related platforms where student dialogue can take
place, particularly in primary education. The inclusive education of citizens and the
development of positive counter-narratives against violent extremist propaganda can
be promoted through education and awareness-raising programmes.
99. Coordination was a recurrent theme among the Working Group’s interlocutors.
Local authority staff and others noted that institutional coordination was crucial for
the effectiveness of programmes, as was a clear understanding of one’s level and role
in the wider federal system. Such coordination could prove critical, for example in
centralizing information from different agencies with a view to identifying the best
entry points for action and standardization, and in sharing methods and expertise.
100. With regard to action at the European and international levels, the Working
Group recommends improved coordination with the European Union and, crucially,
between the countries of origin of foreign fighters and the countries through which
they transit. It also strongly recommends effective cooperation in information-sharing
and evidence gathering in order to support legal proceedings.
101. The Working Group emphasizes that State responses to foreign fighters must
balance punitive measures with preventive ones and should provide rehabilitative
opportunities for returning fighters. It recommends prioritizing the deradicalization
and rehabilitation of returnees, with an emphasis on the use of the human rightsbased approach.
102. The Working Group encourages further research and the compilation of good
practices with regard to the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees, which could
further inform law and policies relating to those persons.
103. The Working Group encourages the implementation of recommendations made
by the United Nations human rights mechanisms for Austria, including by the
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, which, inter alia, raised concerns
relating to discrimination, racism and xenophobia.
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