SHIELDed aims to enhance the safety of soft targets like places of worship, schools, and religious organizations by moving beyond overly securitized and reactive measures. It proposes a comprehensive interfaith and cross-sectoral approach, empowering key practitioners (religious leaders, law enforcement, educators, community workers) and raising awareness among communities and youth.

The project will first address the lack of cooperation between public authorities, law enforcement, and religious institutions by mapping existing resources and establishing Local Shielding Councils in several European cities. These councils will bring together relevant local actors to address specific security needs. To facilitate collaboration, SHIELDed will develop a protocol and local/national guidelines adaptable beyond the participating countries.

To provide both soft and hard security measures, SHIELDed will assess the needs and vulnerabilities of soft targets, leveraging existing knowledge to create practical tools. This includes a multi-level security action plan, an app for vulnerability/threat screening and reporting, and collaborative multi-local security enhancement plans, all piloted and refined with input from target groups.

Recognizing the importance of awareness and preparedness, SHIELDed will implement a comprehensive capacity-building strategy. This includes e-learning courses for various professionals, accessible training materials for community members to promote interfaith coexistence and threat awareness, and an e-learning course for youth to foster tolerance, critical thinking, and media literacy. The project will also conduct in-person training events to build cooperation and exchange expertise. Furthermore, SHIELDed will undertake a holistic awareness-raising effort through local liaison programs, digital initiatives, “Remember to Protect” events, and the creation of Action Kits for different stakeholders. Finally, policy briefs will be developed and disseminated to policymakers to advocate for the needs of soft targets. Ultimately, SHIELDed seeks to create better-prepared and more resilient actors, contributing to a greater sense of security for targeted religious communities.