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A significant global increment in terrorism and violent extremism based on xenophobia, racism, intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, - collectively known as XRIRB - has been observed in recent years. XRIRB-motivated extremist groups, while varied in their specific ideologies, often share common threads of hatred, including racism, misogyny, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and hostility toward minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. In some countries, this constantly growing threat has manifested as violence against institutional authorities and government structures.
In this context, and with the aim to assist Member States in better understanding and responding to this phenomenon, UNODC published the Manual on Prevention of and Responses to Terrorist Attacks on the Basis of Xenophobia, Racism and Other Forms of Intolerance, or in the Name of Religion or Belief in April 2022.
South Africa has not been exempted from the challenges that violent extremism and terrorism based on XRIRB pose to society and public institutions. In this context, UNODC, in collaboration with the North-West University, organised a workshop on monitoring, investigating, and prosecuting XRIRB-related incidents in Pretoria on 4–5 December 2024. This workshop builds on a previous event held in Pretoria on 14–15 November 2023, which provided critical insights into the XRIRB phenomenon and laid the foundation for exploring strategic collaboration among key international and national organisations to strengthen South Africa’s capacity to counter XRIRB actors.
The workshop, which was made possible thanks to the support of the Federal Republic of Germany, brought together authorities from relevant national agencies, academic institutions, law enforcement and international experts. It focused on increasing the capacities of key stakeholders to identify and address the threats of XRIRB, and associated financing, including through international cooperation.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Gunasekaran Rengaswamy, Drug Control and Crime Prevention Officer, from UNODC’s Regional Office for South Africa, highlighted the global rise in violence driven by XRIRB as well as the mandate of UNODC to effectively tackle this threat. He emphasised, “For some countries, this phenomenon currently represents the most serious threat to national security, demanding increased attention from law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and counter-terrorism efforts.” as well as highlighted the importance of “Resolution 78/226 (of 19 December 2023), which calls upon Member States to take appropriate measures to address new and emerging threats posed by the increase in XRIRB-motivated terrorist attacks, including through research, information sharing and cooperation, and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to provide technical assistance to States, upon request, to this end...".
The workshop provided an in-depth analysis of the XRIRB phenomenon, beginning with an examination of South Africa’s approach to tackling this issue. It explored the investigation and prosecution of XRIRB cases, as well as prevention strategies, drawing on experiences from Brazil, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Discussions focused on the challenges faced by private providers in managing XRIRB actors online, the dynamics of terrorism financing within the XRIRB context, and deradicalisation programs for XRIRB actors in prisons. Additionally, experts examined the emerging link between gaming, radicalisation, and the XRIRB phenomenon.
UNODC has conducted workshops and training sessions across Latin America, South Eastern Europe, and South Africa to build the capacity of Member States to more effectively address XRIRB-related challenges, fostering stronger inter-institutional collaboration and enhancing regional and international cooperation.
