Vienna (Austria), 4 March 2021 — Violent extremism and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters continue to pose a threat to international peace and security. Just last year, the Security Council reported that Al-Qaida in the Indian subcontinent and other groups continue to operate with networks and membership from the East Indian Ocean region. The Security Council also noted concern for increased radicalization and recruitment in South Asia.
To provide effective responses to the challenges in field of the prevention of violent extremism leading to terrorism, Member States of the region agreed that establishing a regional network would provide effective responses to these challenges.
Following years of preparations, Member States, with the technical support of UNODC have developed SAN-PVE, a regional network of practitioners working on prevention of violent extremism in South Asia. As Mr. Ahmed Irash Senior Policy Director at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment of the Maldives said, that “Now we see, [that] with the formation of a regional network, more and more organizations are coming together, working together in this important area.”
The Network will soon launch its website designed to promote regional cooperation and strengthen national PVE responses. With this, SAN-PVE will be the first platform for practitioners in preventing and countering violent extremism in South Asia, and it is 100 per cent online-based.
The Network facilitates regional cooperation and sharing of best practices. At the same time, it also ensures continuity of operational activities and efficiency during challenging situations such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
SAN-PVE provides a platform for practitioners to expand their networks of contacts, find and share expertise as well as good practices, and take part in e-learning modules, access publications and resources from UNODC and SAN-PVE participants.
SAN-PVE was developed under complementary projects on counterterrorism and prevention of violent extremism in South Asia funded by the Governments of Germany and Japan.
