Ministers and Experts Highlight Coordination as Means of Preventing Radicalism

Bratislava, 20 November (TASR) - Growing radicalisation among young people needs to be addressed in a coordinated manner between the ministries, the non-governmental sector and other actors that can contribute to prevention, while a central umbrella body should be set up for this purpose, TASR has learnt from the participants in a round-table discussion held at the Education Ministry on Thursday, which was attended by several ministers and representatives of state authorities and NGOs. Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) stressed that no one is questioning the seriousness of the problem posed by radicalisation, which has a negative impact not only on young people themselves but also on society as a whole, threatening its security and cohesion. He recalled that certain steps and measures have been implemented by individual ministries recently. "At today's round-table discussion, we agreed that the steps taken so far, however good, aren't enough. We need to intensify them, and, most importantly, link them and implement them directly in the field," said Drucker. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) warned that youth radicalism has been accelerating globally and that, unfortunately, this trend can be seen in Slovakia as well. "We feel that eastern Slovakia is the most acute problem," he said, adding that younger children are also at risk of radicalisation, not only teenagers. He announced that the next round-table discussion is to be held at the Interior Ministry. Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) supported the idea of setting up a coordinating body. "This is one of the priority tasks: to find a way to oversee and coordinate individual activities in order to achieve synergy," he said. Children's Commissioner Jozef Miklosko said that the situation regarding children has been deteriorating globally, warning that "radicalisation is one of the consequences of poor, negative and unfavourable living conditions". The round-table discussion was also attended by director of the League for Mental Health Juraj Vrsansky, director of IPcko civil association Marek Madro and chief school inspector Alzbeta Stofkova Dianovska, who highlighted the need for prevention and broad coordination, with the round-table discussion providing a basis for more effective and targeted aid. jrg/df