Brussels, 19/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 October, during a public hearing on the theme of radicalisation, MEPs from the EP's culture and education committee concluded that access to education, citizens' participation and dialogue between the different communities, represented the main ways of preventing and tackling the radicalisation of young people. The chair of the Parliamentary committee, Silvia Costa (S&D, Italy), emphasised, “there can be no migration or asylum policy within or without the European Union, without taking into account the educational dimension of this challenge and we need to meet this”.
MEPs invited four representatives from different civil society organisations and UNESCO to the hearing. These representatives highlighted the essential role played by school in providing information and educating young people about tolerance. Sara Khan, the director of Inspire, an organisation fighting against extremism and promoting human rights, explained that work had to begin with educating young girls and women (Muslims) about their rights and civilising role in society. Benny Christensen, from the Euroclio Association, said that teaching history in a critical way and highlighting its direct relationship with the present, was the key towards developing active citizenship and tolerance. Guy Berger, from UNESCO, said that formal education instruments and the media were a crucial ingredient in preventing and tackling radicalisation. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)