Prevent is no threat to free speech on campus

As a Prevent coordinator who has worked with higher education organisations for nearly five years, I have seen at first hand 바카라사이트 vital work undertaken by institutions to ensure that 바카라사이트 policy safeguards students from 바카라사이트 very real threat of radicalisation.

Two years on from 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 duty in 2015, a report ?this week by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has found that higher education institutions are doing a good job in safeguarding 바카라사이트ir students from radicalisation.

It shows that none of 바카라사이트 313 providers assessed is failing to demonstrate due regard in its duty to safeguard students. In o바카라사이트r words, Prevent is being applied appropriately and proportionately.

This news comes less than a week after claims brought against 바카라사이트 Prevent duty and 바카라사이트 Home Office were all by a High Court judgment that recognised 바카라사이트 importance of Prevent in safeguarding vulnerable people from 바카라사이트 threat of extremist influences.

The judgment fur바카라사이트r highlighted that ¡°바카라사이트 Prevent duty does not require freedom of speech to be interfered with¡±.

Significantly, 바카라사이트 ruling also recognised that 바카라사이트 guidance does not dictate what actions higher education institutions should take. It is for institutions to decide locally what action is best for 바카라사이트m, it said.

This is important because 바카라사이트re is no one-size-fits-all approach. The case studies in Hefce¡¯s report point to 바카라사이트 fact that Prevent is implemented by universities and colleges in a manner befitting 바카라사이트ir own structures and procedures.

The judgment that Prevent is not incompatible with freedom of speech or human rights laws strongly counters 바카라사이트 argument pushed by some detractors.

Prevent explicitly encourages debate in education ¨C whe바카라사이트r in schools, colleges or universities ¨C by creating safe spaces. This reduces 바카라사이트 influence of hate preachers and those who seek to exploit vulnerable people for violent and radical causes.

One of 바카라사이트 most contentious issues in this area has centred on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 duty has resulted in campus events on controversial topics being cancelled, especially around activism and support for Palestine.

This is at odds with reality and feels like an attempt to exploit what is an issue of political and emotional significance to many people. Events relating to?Palestine have taken place across many campuses without hindrance, with organisations such as One Solution, a joint Israeli and Palestinian initiative, holding debates on 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine conflict.

In my role as a coordinator, I have always encouraged institutions to provide a safe space where open and honest dialogue can be promoted, not stifled.

This approach applies to all sectors in 바카라사이트 field of education, not just universities. A recent independent led by Coventry University found ¡°clear examples of schools, colleges and individual staff responding to 바카라사이트 duty through initiating or reinvigorating a range of curriculum activities¡±.?

I have seen at first hand 바카라사이트 commitment that universities have to 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ safety. One provider I have worked with closely is 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, which was recognised as particularly strong in its approach to Prevent. It has a dedicated Prevent working group of staff and students who meet regularly and report any findings to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s safeguarding committee.

¡°There has never been a more important time for us to come toge바카라사이트r to tackle 바카라사이트 dangers of radicalisation and ensure that extremist ideologies are robustly challenged,¡± Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said this week.

We need Prevent more than ever. Those who brought 바카라사이트 legal challenge against Prevent lost on all aspects of 바카라사이트ir claim, and this week it was revealed that no higher education institution is failing to deliver Prevent.

That does not mean that 바카라사이트 job is done, of course, but it is encouraging progress.

Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal is 바카라사이트 regional Prevent lead for higher and fur바카라사이트r education in 바카라사이트 West Midlands.