Abu Dhabi: The International Conference on Preventing and Countering Radicalisation and Violent Extremism held this week focused on threats posed by the foreign terrorist (FTF) with an aim of raising awareness on the importance of developing an effective preventive strategy against radicalisation and violent extremism.
The three-day conference, which began on Tuesday, was co-organised by Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and brought more than 60 experts in national criminal justice and law enforcement officials, policymakers and civil society representatives together.
Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Hedayah Steering Board, commended such international conferences which, he said, are helping put in place legal and judicial mechanisms for developing good practices and criminal justice, as well as procedural and administrative measures to address the threat of FTFs at the regional and international levels.
In his opening remarks, Maqsoud Kruse, Executive Director of Hedayah, highlighted the vital importance of sharing sophisticated and realistic good practices and approaches for preventing violent extremism by raising awareness and reducing threats.
Mauro Miedico, UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch representative, said, “Terrorism needs to be tackled at its roots and combating it alone is insufficient. We need to seek prevention, especially since violent extremism is not rooted in any specific region, religion, nationality or ethnic group.
“Military and legal intervention is not enough anymore — the issue of violent extremism is one involving social, economic, historic and psychological institutions. This is also why centres such as Hedayah focus on research and skill building to generate the expertise and knowledge required for combating this dangerous phenomenon,” he said.
Dr Hatem Aly, UNODC Office for the GCC Region Representative, underscored the importance of strategic partnership between UNODC and Hedayah, as the premier international hub for CVE policymakers, practitioners and researchers to enhance understanding and share good practices.
