Advice Centre Hesse

Since its opening, the main focus of the Advice Centre Hesse is to intervene in the radicalisation processes. Targeted local de-radicalisation activities are aimed at people who tend to travel to war zones, return to Germany as “foreign fighters” and/or are searching for an escape from extremist ideologies. Beside this actual focus, the Advice Centre Hesse is geared towards adolescents, parents and experts who have ques-tions in the area of extremism. The centre provides prevention, intervention and de-radicalisation measures as a response to general helplessness when dealing with religious extremism. The Advice Centre promotes increased (religious) tolerance of different world views, and early detection, prevention and reversal of radicalisation processes. One of the key aspects of the Hessian approach is to provide adolescents with infor-mation and knowledge enhancement on interfaith and intercultural connections at an early stage and on dealing with interfaith conflicts within their own communities. Interfaith communication allows for a basic understanding that does not reject fundamental principles such as democracy, non-violence, human rights and tolerance. Rather, it includes these values in their own religion as well. At the same time, this understanding also prevents extremism and the trend to radicalism. In order to reach a broad spectrum within the target group, local prevention as well as intervention measures are used, and in particularly entrenched cases, de-radicalisation measures and disengagement assistance are provided.

Objectives of the Advice Centre Hesse :

• Preventing and reversing radicalisation processes and violent behaviour
• Preventing departure (e.g. to Syria or Iraq)
• Integrating returnees (e.g. from Syria or Iraq)
• Promoting interfaith/intercultural responsibility
• Activating and professionalising institutions and multipliers

Range of services

Prevention:

• Student workshops in schools on interfaith and intercultural responsibility
• Advice for parents, mosque congregations and other interested parties within the framework of preventive work
• Civic education for promoting tolerance and democratic capability

Qualification:

• Information, awareness-raising and educational events for early detection and strengthening the coping skills of persons who are in contact with vulnerable young people

Intervention/de-radicalisation/disengagement assistance:

• Advice for relatives when dealing with religious extremism
• Advice, support and special training for adolescents at risk of becoming radicalised prior to delinquency

Contact details:

Alt-Moabit 73
D – 10555, Berlin
Germany

Judy Korn, CEO
Email: judy.korn@violence-prevention-network.de 
Tel: (+49) 30 91 70 54 64