Artwork created by youth-led CSO leaders in Southeast Asia.
Violent extremism undermines peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. No country or region is immune from its impacts.
Ahead of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism on 12 February, find out more about preventing violent extremism below.
Preventing Violent Extremism (“PVE”) refers to efforts aimed at addressing the root causes and drivers of violent extremism, which can lead to terrorism. Unlike traditional counter-terrorism measures that focus primarily on criminal justice responses, PVE emphasizes the importance of early intervention, building resilience, fostering inclusivity and addressing the underlying grievances that may fuel radicalization.
The underlying grievances that fuel violent extremism leading to terrorism are fundamentally socio-political, economic and ideological in nature. As long as the global threat of terrorism is addressed solely through securitized responses, violent extremist ideologies will likely continue to spread, in particular targeting youth and other vulnerable populations who may be susceptible to radicalization.
As a result, threats to international peace and security arising from the violent extremism leading to terrorism will persist and potentially exacerbate if the underlying causes are left unaddressed. International best practices therefore dictate that a whole-of-government and society approach to prevention is needed to keep communities safe from violent extremism.
The UN uses a broad legal framework to tackle the issue from multiple angles. The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is a key instrument guiding international efforts in this area, alongside the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They promote consultative decision-making and encourage stronger cooperation between governments, civil society and international organizations.
UNODC supports Member States in implementing the above legal framework and is committed to advancing comprehensive and innovative approaches to PVE. This includes promoting community-driven strategies, addressing online radicalization, supporting human rights-based rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R), developing early warning systems and enhancing strategic communications to prevent the spread of violent extremist narratives.
As part of these efforts, UNODC has developed regional PVE practitioners’ networks across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Sahel regions. These networks help bridge gaps between governments and civil society by engaging all relevant actors working on PVE.
UNODC’s Youth-led Action initiative, launched in 2023, seeks to empower youth as agents of positive change who are best positioned to understand and engage their peers, and lead the global PVE agenda as active participants in all stages of decision making and implementation as it pertains to the youth population.
In a recent Youth-led Action initiative conducted in Southeast Asia, youth leaders shared their personal stories which led them to join the initiative to prevent and counter violent extremism.
One of the participants, Ratu Bintang, Executive Director of Leadership Lens – a CSO focused on preventing violent extremism (PVE) in Indonesia – shared a personal story that shaped her leadership. When Bintang’s childhood friend began withdrawing from others, no one saw it as a warning sign. Only later did the community realize he had been associating with individuals promoting radical ideology. The turning point came when Bintang discovered his troubling online activities, and she began to trace his path toward extremism. This experience ultimately drove her to become a youth leader in PVE, and her initiative now focuses on promoting resilience to radicalization among children.
PVE is a global endeavour for the international community that requires consistent and long-term engagement, support, and funding to yield results. The International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism is a timely moment to reflect on the significant progress and achievements that have been made so far, while looking forward to the work that must be sustained in order to create safer societies globally, for current and future generations.
