“Countering radicalisation: perspectives and stategies from around the globe”From the 22 to 24th of October 2007, experts from both Western and Southern Countries gathered in Den Hague, The Netherlands to discuss and share ideas on how to counter international radicalism.The conference, an initiative of Dutch Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs was organized by NCTb ( Terrorism Control Board), events and discussion was directed by Mr. Ruud Lubbers, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and also former Prime Minister of The Netherlands.The conference organization aligned with the United Nations Strategy on the fight against terrorism. Fight against radicalisation is also a part of this UN strategy that came into force in September 2006.With joint cooperation resulting from this type of gatherings, instruments and strategies are developed to fight radicalisation at all levels.
EUROPE FORMS GENDARMERIE FORCE! The five countries of the European Gendarmerie Force, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands, gathered today at the historic Waterland estate in Velsen, near Amsterdam, to officially sign the Treaty Establishing the European Gendarmerie Force. The signing ceremony was hosted by the Dutch minister of Defence Eimert van Middelkoop, as chairman of the EGF in 2007. The European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) was launched in September 2004 as a multinational co-operation structure of police forces with a military status. In January 2006 a Headquarters was opened in Vicenza and at the end of 2006, 'full operational capability' of the EGF was declared. The EGF can now operate both under military and civilian chains of command and has the capacity to participate in two operations at the same time. The official signing of the Treaty came just in time for the start of the first EGF-mission to Bosnia, for which the details will be worked out with the EU Operation Commander EUFOR. Starting from the beginning of November, the EGF will contribute to the ESDP-mission Althea with an Integrated Police Unit under the operational control of COMEUFOR. The EGF is a robust operational force with an initial rapid reaction capability of 800 persons within 30 days. As a crisis management tool, the EGF will be primarily used for the European Union. However its design makes it available to international organizations (UN, NATO, OSCE) or to an ad hoc coalition. Italy contributes three integrated police units (IPU) to the EGF, Spain two and Portugal one. France contributes two IPU's and fills a third one together with the Netherlands.
CMO RCOGNIZED BY MINISTRY OF JUSTICE! TheMuslim Contact Organization (CMO) is now officially recognized by government. The official recognition was sealed with the signing of contract between the Minister of Justice (Hirsch Ballin) and CMO Chairman (El Boujoufi). CMO is the representative organ of all the Muslim religious groups, movements and associations in the Country. The CMO recognition means that, the Organization would be responsible for all spiritual counselling, care and guidance of Muslims in Government detention and prison facilities. According to Ministry of Justice information, the recognition was not given without fulfilment of associated conditions, in 2004, CMO was recognized by Government as discussion partner for the Muslims in the Country. In June 2005 CMO applied to Ministry of Justice for recognition to take charge of spiritual counselling, care and guidance of all Muslims in Justice Ministry detention and prison facilities, but recognition was in 2005 delayed pending the fulfilment of Government stipulated conditions ( such as representativeness and openness for all Muslim groups, movements and association )by CMO. These conditions according to Government information source have been fulfilled. The services of the Organization to Justice facilities would be evaluated every 3 years.
GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLE OF MINORS “The Dutch is to tackle illegal smuggle of minors in their respective Countries of origin”
In an effort to tackle the illegal international trade on children, the Dutch government is to establish the so called SAT ( Quick Action Teams) in the Countries of origin of these smuggled minors.This special action is needed in other to stop this illegal and inhuman trade at its earliest stage, as well as preventing vulnerable children from becoming victims of this criminal and illegal trade organizations, says the government news source. The special intervention action of the Dutch government was revealed by Mrs. Albayrak, the State Secretary for Justice during her speech at the Council of Europe gathering in Spain. According to the State Secretary, the Netherlands has the needed expertise in areas of fraudulent document dictation etc
