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New York: On April 3, 2018, UNESCO joined the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends meeting, and reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to preventing violent extremism through education, media, and intercultural dialogue.

UNAOC hosted a Group of Friends meeting at United Nations Headquarters on April 3, 2018, under the theme of “Preventing Violent Extremism and Sustaining Peace”.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative for UNAOC, underscored that collective efforts must be redoubled to attack the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism in a comprehensive and balanced manner. He reviewed UNAOC’s work in forging partnerships with religious leaders, youth, academia, media, civil society, and businesses to promote inclusion and dialogues. Mr. High Representative and Ms. Nihal Saad, his Chief of Cabinet, also introduced UNAOC’s upcoming activities, programmes, and initiatives in 2018/2019.

On behalf of the two co-sponsors, H.E. Mr. Feridun Hadi Sinirlioǧlu, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN, and H.E. Mr. Jorge Moragas, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN, both delivered remarks. Ambassador Sinirlioǧlu commended UNAOC’s significant contribution to redefining UN’s approach to sustaining peace, and stated that a broader vision and a prevention-based approach are needed to address the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism. Ambassador Moragas cited international collaboration, prevention, a comprehensive approach, and research as critical elements in addressing the increase in radicalization, extremism, and intolerance in the world today. He also highlighted the key role information technologies and the Internet can play in changing the narrative, preventing hate speech, and promoting dialogues and tolerance.

Addressing the meeting, Ms. Marie Paule Roudil, Director of UNESCO New York Office and UNESCO Representative to the United Nations, pointed out that we experience a lack of efficient resources to address and change individual and collective behaviors. We must spare no efforts in coming up with contemporary and modern ways to prevent and tackle violent extremism, including using social media and information technologies. This is why UNESCO has been supporting and building capacity of governments, media, and other civil society actors through tools like Youth and Violent Extremism on Social Media and Terrorism and the Media: A Handbook for Journalists. Ms. Roudil went on to reaffirm UNESCO’s commitment to tackling and preventing violent extremism and terrorism through education, and called for strengthened focus on the training of educators and development of the curriculum in universities. Finally, she shared a few educational tools developed by the Organization:

• A teachers’ guide on managing classroom discussions in relation to PVE and radicalization;

• A guide for policy makers that will help prioritize, plan and implement effective and appropriate education-related actions, contributing to national PVE efforts;

• A youth-led guide, whose authors reached out to more than 2,000+ young people from 50+ countries culminating into 150+ concrete ideas, experiences and case studies as well as tangible recommendations; and:

• A policy guide on education about the Holocaust and preventing genocide, to inform broader understandings of mass violence globally, as well as highlight the value of promoting human rights, ethics, and civic engagement that bolsters human solidarity at the local, national, and global levels.

Representatives of Indonesia (on behalf of MIKTA), Sweden, Philippines, Hungary, African Union, Malaysia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Oman, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Austria, Pakistan, Argentina, Egypt, and Morocco also took the floor during the general debate, and shared their views on the theme. Many reaffirmed that violent extremism and terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, civilization, ethnicity, or culture; and mentioned the necessity of a comprehensive “All-of-United Nations” approach. Some highlighted the crucial role of education and gender sensitive approach to mutual understanding and sustainable peace.

URL:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco-liaison-office-in-new-york/about-this-office/single-view/news/educating_young_boys_and_girls_key_to_prevent_violent_ex/