Violent extremist and terrorist groups continue to exploit the Internet and social media to disseminate their narratives and recruit women and young people. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the exposure of individuals to online platforms, heightening the risk of online radicalization among vulnerable populations.
In this context, UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch delivered a virtual cross-regional training to promote regional peer-to-peer learning and sharing of good practices to prevent violent extremism (PVE) among women and youth on 8-9 February 2022. The event offered a platform for the exchange of knowledge, good practices and community-focused strategies for addressing and preventing the engagement of women and young people in violent extremism, in particular, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The training also offered guidance on the development of multi-agency and local partnerships with civil society, especially women and youth organizations, in line with the UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.
During the interactive discussions, the need to better understand the factors and drivers of online radicalization of women and youth was highlighted. Participants also stressed the importance of developing gender and age-sensitive counter- and alternative narratives, creating safe online spaces and improving digital literacy to build women and youth’s resilience to violent extremism.
Furthermore, the training enhanced awareness and knowledge on effective approaches to involve youth in PVE efforts and emphasized the role of youth at the centre of PVE initiatives. Additionally, it addressed the significance of developing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation frameworks for PVE programmes, and provided recommendations on the incorporation of good practices into national contexts.
The event was funded by the Government of Japan.