PRESS RELEASE

Date: 4 November 2025 / Location: Dublin, Ireland

Enhancing Faith Institutions Launched The First Dublin Local Shielding Council With Key Leaders As Part of The SHIELDed Project

Yesterday marked the official launch of the Dublin Local Shielding Council, delivered by Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), a pioneering initiative under the EU-funded SHIELDed programme to enhance safety and resilience for places of worship across Europe.

Held at the offices of Enhancing Faith Institutions (EFI), the launch brought together faith leaders, community representatives, and safeguarding advocates to shape the vision and priorities of the Dublin Local Shielding Council. The gathering served as a collaborative forum to exchange insights, align on objectives, and initiate coordinated actions to advance community-led safety strategies that reflect the needs of Dublin’s diverse religious communities.

Key Highlights:

  • Strategic Frameworks Unveiled: The Council The SHIELDed WP2 safety framework was presented as a reference point to guide future discussions.
  • Consortium Collaboration: Representatives from EFI engaged in open dialogue to share initial perspectives, align on shared goals, and begin shaping a collaborative roadmap for the Council’s work over the next two years.
  • Training and Capacity Building: The Council initiated a needs-based discussion to identify priority areas for future capacity building. Participants highlighted gaps in safeguarding awareness, incident response coordination, and community engagement—laying the groundwork for future workshops and resources.
  • Policy Advocacy: Participants discussed how the Council could serve as a bridge between grassroots needs and municipal policy development, ensuring inclusive and responsive safeguarding strategies.

Quotes:

“This Council is not just a response to threats—it’s a proactive commitment to dignity, safety, and solidarity,”

“We’re proud to be part of a Europe-wide movement that centers community voices in security design,”

Next Steps:

The Dublin Local Shielding Council will serve as a model for other municipalities, with upcoming launches planned across Europe as part of the SHIELDed Project. The next Dublin Shielding Council is planned for the first quarter of 2026.