Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

Terrorism risk, including the underlying causes and manifestations of violent extremism, whilst sharing some common attributes and factors, can vary significantly across (sub-) regions. Therefore, it is important not to adopt a "one size fits all" approach, but instead to ensure that generic principles, factors and so forth are appropriately contextualized.   In this regard, one helpful tool is the Global Implementation Survey of the implementation of Security Council 1373 (2001) requirements which summarizes key threats, trends and so forth within the (sub-) geographical regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America.

African regional initiatives against violent extremism

• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS political declaration and common position against terrorism.
• African Union Peace and Security Council (last updated 21 November 2017). " The 728 ^th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council: open session on the theme: 'the role of women in preventing and countering violent extremism in Africa'."
• African Union Peace and Security Council (last updated 14 February 2018). " Communique of the 749 ^th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, at the level of Heads of State and Government, on the theme: 'Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Combatting the Transnational Threat of Terrorism in Africa'."
• African Union Peace and Security Council (last updated 2 February 2017). " Communique of the 650th meeting of the PSC: Briefing by CISSA on the recent international developments in the fight against terrorism and its impact in Africa."

Asian regional initiatives against violent extremism

• SCO (2017). The Astana Declaration of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Astana, 9 June.
• Yakovenko, Alexander (2017). SCO sets standards for countering extremism. RT, 7 September.
• SCO (2017). Press release on the results of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of State Council Meeting. 9 June.
• SCO, The Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism (adopted 15 June 2001).
• ASEAN Secretariat (2015). Chairman's Statement of the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalization and Violent Extremism (SAMMRRVE), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2 October 2015. ASEAN Document Series 2015.
• East Asia Summit (2015). East Asia Summit Statement on Countering Violent Extremism. 21 November.
• ASEAN (2017). Joint Declaration of the ASEAN Defence Ministers on Partnering for Change, Engaging the World. October 23.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Kazakhstan) (2015). Central and South Asia Regional Conference on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).
• Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) (2012). Youth and Terrorism: A Selection of Articles . Kuala Lumpur.
• Samuel, Thomas, K (2011). The Lure of Youth into Terrorism. In SEARCCT's Selection of Articles, vol. 2.Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT). Kuala Lumpur.

Inter-American regional initiatives against violent extremism

To date, the OAS does not seem to have adopted specific instruments or initiatives aimed at preventing or countering violent extremism. It is possible though that such measures fall within the broader remit of "Prevent, Combat and Eliminate" terrorism which form the basis of OAS General Assembly and CITCE outputs, for example:

• CICTE (2008). Declaration: Reaffirmation of the Hemispheric Commitment To Fighting Terrorism (Adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session held on March 7, 2008). 7 March. OEA/Ser.L/X.2.8. Para. 5.
• CITCE (2011). Declaration of Renewed Hemispheric Commitment to Enhance Cooperation to Prevent, Combat and Eliminate Terrorism (Adopted at the Third Plenary Session held on 17 March 2011. 21 March. OEA/Ser.L/X.2.11. CICTE/DEC.1/11.

See national initiatives, for example:

• US Department of State, and USAID (2016). Joint Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism .
• US Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism "mission is to promote U.S. national security by taking a leading role in developing coordinated strategies and approaches to defeat terrorism abroad and securing the counterterrorism cooperation of international partners." More resources available here.

The Middle East and the Gulf - regional initiatives against violent extremism

• League of Arab States (LAS) (2015). Report of the conference on "Regional Security and Challenges Facing the Arab Region". February.
• OIC, Council of Foreign Ministers (2017). Report of the 44 ^th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (Session on Youth, Peace and Development in a World of Solidarity) . 10-11July. Abidjan, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. OIC/44-CFM/2017/REPORT/FINAL.
• Islamic Conference Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2016). Joint OIC Youth Strategy . DRAFT. ICYF-DC/ICYSM-3/2016/01/Rev.1.
• OIC (2016). Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) . Adopted by the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of OIC Member States. 1-3 November. Istanbul, Republic of Turkey.

[Note: It was not possible to consider all LAS outputs due to their availability in Arabic only. It may be that other initiatives and outputs exist as well.]

European regional initiatives against violent extremism

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

• OSCE (2015). Working with Youth for Youth: Protection against Radicalization . 3 September. Belgrade.
• Neumann, Peter, R., OSCE (2017). Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalisation that Lead to Terrorism: Ideas, Recommendations, and Good Practices from the OSCE Region . OSCE. The report contains 22 good practice case studies from the following programmatic areas: national action plans; prison; policing; youth; education; religion; the internet; women; refugees; interventions; and returnees.
• OSCE (2017). Factsheet: Transnational Threats Department: Department against Terrorism Unit . Action against Terrorism Unit.
• OSCE (2017). OSCE United in Countering Violent Extremism: #UnitedCVE Campaign . OSCE leaflet.
• OSCE, OSCE Secretariat (2017). Youth and the Prevention of Violent Extremism: Workshop on Perspectives from the Western Balkan Region . 23-25 April. Sarajevo.
• OSCE, Ministerial Council (2015). Ministerial Council Declaration on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization Leading to Terrorism . 4 December.MC.DOC/4/15.
• OSCE, ODIHR (2013). Women and Terrorist Radicalization: Final Report . Vienna.

Council of Europe

• Council of Europe (2016). Council of Europe Handbook for Prison and Probation Services Regarding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism. PC-CP (2016) 2 rev 4.
• Council of Europe, European Union (2017). Youth work against violent radicalisation: Conference. 28-30 November. Malta.
• Council of Europe, European Union. Youth partnership.
• Youth Cooperation Programme of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. See, Council of Europe (2018). Newsroom: Working with and for the youth on issues of pace and development. 5 February.

European Union (EU)

• European Union, European Council (2017). Draft Revised Guidelines for the EU Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism. 24 May. Brussels. 9646/17.
• European Union, European Parliament (2016). European Parliament resolution of 19 January 2016 on the role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values . 19 January. 2015/2139(INI).
• European Union, European Commission (2015). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: The European Agenda on Security. 28 April. Strasbourg. COM (2015) 185 final.
• European Union, European Parliament (2015). European Parliament resolution of 25 November 2015 on the prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations . 25 November. 2015/2063(INI).
• European Union, European Council (2015). Outcome of the Council Meeting: 3367 ^th Council meeting: Foreign Affairs. Brussels. 9 February. Counter Terrorism.
• European Union, European Commission (2014). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Preventing Radicalisation to Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Strengthening the EU's Response . 15 January. COM (2013) 941 final.
• European Union (2010). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: The EU Internal Security Strategy in Action: five steps towards a more secure Europe. 22 November. COM (2010)673 final.
• European Union, European Council (2005). The European Union Counter Terrorism Strategy. 30 November. 14469/4/05 Rev. 4.
• European Union, European Council (2000). " Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation." 2 December. Official Journal of the European Communities, L 303/16.Directive 2000/78 on equal treatment in employment and education helps to fight discrimination, including through raising awareness about discrimination among stakeholders, civil society and social partners.
• Youth Guarantee and the Youth Employment Initiative, the Recommendation on long term unemployed and the recently adopted Skills Agenda. See European Union, European Commission (2016). Communication from the Commission to the European parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A new Skills Agenda for Europe: Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness . 10 June. COM(2016) 381 final.
• Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence (RAN), created under the European Union Internal Security Strategy.