News

Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (GCSD) handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy learning modules and tests related to the prevention of violent extremism.

The meeting was held in the MIA Academy where GCSD Director Mariam Tokhadze and Vice-Rector of the MIA Academy Teimuraz Magradze spoke about the importance of law enforcement qualifications in preventing violent extremism and radicalization.

During the development of the training modules, the needs of the law enforcement agencies were taken into account and accordingly all the modules share the specifications of the mentioned direction. The online course covers key issues on the prevention of violent extremism, such as drivers of radicalization, the role of the state and law enforcement agencies in the prevention of violent extremism, and the involvement of young people in radicalization processes.

The modules for the MIA Academy were created by Dr. Edward Denmark, a member of the GCSD International Advisory Board. Dr. Denmark is a Chief of Police in Harvard, Massachusetts, USA. In addition to his twenty-nine years in policing, Chief Denmark has worked nationally and internationally as an instructor, trainer, and advisor offering expertise on numerous law enforcement topics and community issues with a strong focus on leadership and organizational development. Chief Denmark earned a Doctor of Arts in Leadership Studies from Franklin Pierce University and holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Fitchburg State University and a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.

The modules have been developed in the framework of the program “Enhancing the Capacity of Georgia in Preventing Violent Extremism and Radicalization” have been implemented by the GCSD since March 2020 with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway. The program aims to prevent all kinds of extremism and radicalization in Georgia and increase society's resilience and enhance Georgia's capacity.