CALL FOR COLLABORATION

The Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN) is set up by the European Commission as an EU-wide umbrella network of practitioners and local actors involved in countering violent radicalization. The purpose of this network is to identify good practices, promote the exchange of information and experience in different fields of violent radicalization such as, for example, the use of Internet and social media for extremist propaganda and use by terrorists of information and communications technologies. The network works towards countering radicalization before it leads to violent extremism. It will encourage credible role models and opinion leaders to voice positive messages offering alternatives to violent, extremist propaganda. As we know and it has been underlined also in the Riyadh Conference on the Use of the Internet to Counter the Appeal of Extremist Violence, by the United Nations Counterterrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF): Individuals who have been victims of terrorism form possibly the most powerful group of messengers as they can promote a counter-narrative through personal stories and so speak truth to terror. As a 'network of networks' the RAN includes groups, associations and platforms with concrete and practical involvement in preventing radicalization issues. Their work is organized in work-groups. AfVT.org and AIVITER launched the Victims of Terrorism (RAN-VVT) group. The first meeting will take place on: 29th and 30th May 2012 Maison dAssociations du 17me Arrondissement, Paris The aim of this first meeting is: 1. Presentation of RAN and the working group Victims of Terrorism 2. The ethical, legal and academic aspects of the use of testimonies of victims for counterradicalization. 3. Sharing good and bad experiences about collecting and/or using testimonies This work-group meeting will be composed by victims and/or representatives of their association, of academy research involved in terrorism and victims studies, and of individuals or companies who work in the field communication (for instance film makers and specialists on the use new media). If your organization is interested to share its experience and skills in the field of counter-narrative productions and didactic/pedagogic activity from the voice of victims, survivors, families and witness of terrorism acts, please contact Maarten van de Donk from the RAN secretary in charge of the coordination and all the logistics at the following address: M.vandeDonk@radaradvies.nl Only one person per organization can attend the meeting. Deadline for registration is May 14 th. If you do have suggestions on people we should invite for this or upcoming meetings feel free to contact us.

It will be an honor to welcome you in Paris and we are looking forward to cooperate with you in the working group meeting. Best regards

Guillaume Denoix de Saint Marc AfVT.org

Luca Guglielminetti AIVITER