Preventing terrorism
Long-term efforts to combat terrorism require measures that go beyond the activities of crime-fighting agencies. Both national and international activities are central to prevent violent extremism, radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism.
Dialogue
A feeling of exclusion and frustration about what is happening in other parts of the world is a factor that may feed support for terrorism also in the Swedish society. Hence, measures at national level are needed to prevent violent radicalisation that may lead to violent actions. The Government aims to combat segregation, discrimination and exclusion. Wider use will be made of dialogue as a means of creating more opportunities for representatives of civil society to give their view of threat pictures and possible measures.
Democracy promotion
Fighting terrorism means countering threats to democracy. A national project for strengthening and protecting democracy will be launched during this electoral period. One ambition is to develop democratic processes so as to increase citizen participation and make participation more equal.
Rehabilitation
It is important to develop methods to support people who want to leave extremist, violence-promoting environments. Possible ways of providing such support will be studied in more detail.
Exchange of experience
Measures that have been taken to improve integration and prevent radicalisation in other countries will be inventoried and evaluated.
International undertakings
The Council of Europe Convention on Prevention of Terrorism aims to increase opportunities for intervention before terrorist acts are committed by criminalising public provocation of and recruitment for terrorism, organisation of training camps or dissemination for terrorist purposes of knowledge about bomb-making, etc. Sweden has signed the Convention and is now preparing ratification.
Measures within the framework of development cooperation
A policy will be drawn up jointly with Sida on how and to what extent development cooperation under the development assistance objective can be an instrument for strengthening states' own ability to prevent terrorism. Some of the measures where it is anticipated that development assistance can help prevent terrorism and its underlying factors include support to young people through job-creating measures, education and training, promotion of democracy, prison reform, dialogue and reconciliation and media support.
Contributions to capacity enhancing measures
Weak states risk leaving room for terrorist activities and other crime because of an absence of fundamental institutions or the inadequate capacity of responsible authorities. Many countries also lack a capacity to combat terrorism. The UN, the EU and several other organisations therefore call upon their member states to provide capacity-building support to countries that lack an ability to combat terrorism in accordance with international commitments. Sweden will continue to be a major donor of development assistance, above all through the UN and the EU. Bilateral support to countries with special needs will continue.
