New IPS-led initiative unites efforts to protect religious communities, schools, and places of worship

IPS kicked off a new partnered initiative aimed at protecting some of the most important, yet vulnerable spaces in our communities across Europe, combining security with communitarian-led efforts.

In over 75% of European countries, symbolic public places have been targeted by hate-motivated attacks, either through micro-aggressions or major threats. Europe accounts for the highest number of such incidents, which include property damage, attacks on houses of worship and cemeteries, as well as physical assaults in at least 17 countries (Majumdar, 2023). These threats have been intensified by ongoing global conflicts and crises, while the spread of disinformation and hate speech has further fueled intolerance and violence, leaving many communities across Europe increasingly vulnerable and at greater risk.

Recognising this growing threat, a new initiative coordinated by IPS and involving 17 partner organisations across 10 European countries – Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain – recently kicked-off in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting marked the beginning of a coordinated, cross-sectoral effort to tackle the growing vulnerabilities and complex challenges facing communities across Europe, laying the groundwork for long-term, community-led solutions that promote resilience, cohesion, and safety.

The SHIELDed initiative – Schools, religious communities, and local authorities’ Harmonised Initiative to Enhance Local Resilience – is an innovative approach to safeguard places of worship, educational institutions, and religious communities, that builds upon the insights shared by another IPS-partnered project, PARTES – Participatory Approaches to Protecting Places of Worship. Grounded in a multi-stakeholder approach, it focuses on building informed, tolerant, and safe local communities to increase local resilience and civic literacy, by capacitating soft targets, including schools and communities, to prevent, respond, and mitigate religious and cultural hatred and violence.

By leveraging the expertise of all partners in preventing radicalisation and extremism, the SHIELDed project aims to help communities and local authorities collaborate in strengthening resilience against potential vulnerabilities and threats, while fostering a shared culture of security, dialogue, and mutual respect for all.

As project leader, IPS will bring significant added value through its extensive experience in developing innovative solutions to prevent violence, investing in the development and implementation of comprehensive training programmes. Moreover, as the coordinator, IPS will mobilise its expertise and experience in project management to steer the consortium. This, combined with practical insights gained from previous initiatives on related themes, will be instrumental in shaping a strategic and effective approach, ensuring that best practices are applied and outcomes are sustainable.

IPS is proud to lead this initiative, which highlights the need for a holistic, community-rooted approach to fostering tolerance, safety, and resilience, especially in an increasingly polarised world.