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Youth recruitment into organised crime is a complex phenomenon, influenced by a range of interconnected risk factors at the individual, family and community levels. Addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. Prevention initiatives - such as community-oriented policing, family interventions, online takedowns, focused deterrence, and youth diversion schemes - can all contribute to reducing youth involvement in criminal networks. Effective prevention goes beyond disrupting recruitment; it also involves providing real, legitimate alternatives for belonging, identity, and purpose.

This webinar will focus on two EU good practices. Both good practices will be included in our upcoming EUCPN-ENAA toolkit on organised crime, which will be published later this year.

• Group Violence Intervention (GVI) – One of the most well-known applications of focused deterence. In 2018, Malmö (Sweden) replicated the programme targeting serious group-related violence that was rising across the country.

• Prevention with Authority (PmG) – Aims to prevent young people from becoming involved in organised crime or to stop their further progression into a criminal career. It combines support to improve opportunities and future prospects with clear boundaries for those displaying criminal behavior. 

The webinar takes place on Thursday 26 February 2026 between 10:00 - 11:00 CET. Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. The webinar will be hosted via Teams. After registration, an automatic confirmation email will be sent to you from @ibzfgovbe.

Registration

WHO Council of Champions to End Violence Against Children.

The Council of Champions is a new, WHO-coordinated, international effort to generate collective political leadership on child protection.

Building from the landmark first Global Ministerial Conference on ending violence against children in late 2024 and looking to the Second – scheduled for November 2026 – an intensified effort is required to maintain momentum, protect hard-won gains and ensure maximum change for children.

The Council of Champions is a cohort of 10 Ministers from Member States who have demonstrated both a proven track record on ending violence against children and the appetite to dedicate political capital to this pressing public health issue.

Regionally- and gender-representative, the Council will serve as a powerful, united voice to champion the centrality of health, social development and justice systems in ending violence against children – showcasing national leadership, accelerating global momentum and demonstrating the value of cross-regional collaboration in shifting political priority for this often-neglected agenda.

As a first signal of intent, the Council of Champions (representing the governments of Albania, Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, France, Jordan, Oman, Nigeria, Philippines and Timor-Leste) have today published a collective Op-Ed. Please consider reading and sharing this powerful piece.

With a strategic programme of action for the coming year, the Council of Champions looks forward to joining allies in maximising the Ministerial moment, delivering real change for children affected by violence.