OSCE/ODIHR trains local police from Fuenlabrada, Spain on human rights standards in countering violent extremism that may lead to terrorism

The links between respecting human rights and countering violent extremism and radicalization that may lead to terrorism were explored during a training workshop for police officers from the Spanish municipality of Fuenlabrada, from 22 to 24 May 2018. The course was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The 22 mid- to high-ranking officers who participated – 20 men and 2 women – discussed human rights standards related to the work of the police with communities, the treatment of detainees,  the use of force, stop-and-search procedures, and the arrest of criminal suspects.

“Frontline police officers at the local level perform an important role in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that may lead to terrorism,” said Jennifer Croft, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Human Rights department. “Respecting and protecting human rights is a central part of this role and helps officers enhance their operational effectiveness.”

The workshop built on ODIHR’s standard training curriculum for law-enforcement officers on protecting human rights and effectively countering terrorism, tailored to the specific needs of local police. The workshop was based on the findings of a pre-training assessment mission and incorporated elements from the OSCE guidebook Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community Policing Approach.

The training was part of the local implementation of the Spanish national strategy against violent radicalization. It followed a similar exercise for Spanish local police officers from Andalusia, which took place in Málaga in June 2017.