The Manifesto

Since the 2012 Manifesto of Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis, there has been throughout Europe a diversification of the stakeholders involved in security policies. Indeed, private security companies, non governmental organisations and representatives of civil society as well as individual citizens play an increasing role in these policies. Local and regional authority members of Efus thus call for involving all these stakeholders not only in the implementation but also the design of security policies. They call for co-production mechanisms that involve civil society in all its diversity. In particular, women, young people, seniors and population groups that are victim to discriminatory violence should not be mere passive targets of prevention measures but rather play an active role in security policies.

The terrorist threats and the demands of the population in terms of security are important constraints for political decision makers who can be tempted to act precipitously or guided by emotion. Efus elected officials stress that political action, however urgent, should never infringe on the respect of human rights. This is why they link the Manifesto with the European Charter of Human Rights. They recall that security policies must be founded on the respect and defence of fundamental rights, the rule of law, democratic legitimacy and the principle of the welfare state. They stress the need to counter social and economic inequalities, which remain too widespread in Europe. These inequalities create resentment, which in turn can degenerate into violence, crime or even violent extremism. Lastly, they recall the importance of crime prevention as a rational, strategic, and cost-effective option.