(Paris, France) - The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) hosted a roundtable November 13 entitled "Secularism and prevention of radicalization" where it launched a practical handbook for educators. Produced in collaboration with the Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalization (SG-CIPDR) and the European Foundation for Democracy (EFD), the guide aims to detect and react appropriately to sensitive situations without compromising their authority or their pedagogical or educational actions.

France, like its European neighbors, is confronted with the problem of youth radicalization. This radicalization is the result of recruitment campaigns by terrorist organizations. CEP is actively engaged on this issue, and hopes that this handbook will help French educators to promote integration and recognise the threat of radicalization.

Ms. Muriel Domenach, Secretary General of the SG-CIPDR: "Faced with radicalization, we must give ourselves the means to fight, prevent and reintegrate. This is a fight that the French State leads with determination across all areas. We must form a community with the local elected officials and civil society actors. The priority is the prevention of radicalization among the youngest of society. It is at school that we work to actively support teachers and educators in the face of attacks on secularism and the early signs of radicalization, and guide them to understand the media and online activity."

Jean-Charles Brisard, President of the Center for the Analysis of Terrorism and Senior Advisor to CEP: "It is essential to detect the early signs of radicalization. This handbook is a tool and not an end in itself. It allows educators, who work daily with at-risk youths, to know how to detect and prevent radicalization. Better to protect young people from the dangerous speeches that are conveyed (especially online) by involving them in a constructive dialogue over time. "

The manual is available on the CEP website here.