International Cooperation Needed to Prevent Violent Extremism: UN

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Violent extremism is a global problem and international cooperation is needed to prevent it, said the Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), at a press conference in Jakarta yesterday.

"We have no choice but to cooperate through international cooperation because terrorism today is becoming increasingly transnational," said Dr. Jehangir Khan, who is also the Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) in the Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

He cited ISIS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram as examples of terrorist groups who are moving across borders.

Khan came to Jakarta for an ASEAN-UN regional dialogue on preventing violent extremism, which took place on 8-9 November, 2016.

Officials from the United Nations and ASEAN governments came together to discuss conflict prevention and prevention of violent extremism in the ASEAN region.

"No one country, no one government by itself is capable of dealing with this threat, it has to be a more effective international cooperation," said Khan.  

The aim of the regional dialogue is to focus on how to prevent rather than combat violent extremism.

"Addressing the root causes is extremely crucial in addressing violent extremism in our region through an ASEAN approach that is people-centred and people-oriented with protection and empowerment of people as the two key components," said Indonesian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Fachir, who opened an event at the dialogue.

The discussions also focused the on various roles of women, youth and civil society.

Khan emphasised that leaders need to have a new focus on youth and how to prevent them from being radicalised.

"The youth are not the problem," Khan explained, adding that nobody naturally becomes a terrorist.

One other of concern to the international community is the lone-wolf attack phenomenon.

"Ultimately this area of prevention of violent extremism has to go local," said Khan.

"The lone-wolf syndrome is indeed a challenge but ultimately we believe in this context of engaging local communities. Making them more aware."

The UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force consists of 38 international entities and is mandated to strengthen coordination and coherence of counter-terrorism efforts within the United Nations system.

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre of the Department of Political Affairs promotes peace and prevents conflict by coordinating the Organization's work to prevent terrorism and violent extremism.

SAMANTHA YAP