No country is immune to the risk of violent extremism

No country or region is immune to the risk of violent extremism, including those in South Asia.  It is therefore essential to remain proactive in efforts to prevent the spread of violent extremism.

This is true as well for the Maldives, as noted by Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer, Senior Research Fellow at the Maldives National University. “We are a very small community,” Shahu says. “We need to know the reasons why people are attracted to extremist ideas.

“There are islands here where everyone knows everyone else living on that island,” she continues. Therefore, “if we are aware of the signs of violent extremism, I think we will be able to prevent it.”

This interest in exploring the root causes of violence and extremism led Shahu to establish a civil society organization dedicated to preventing violent extremism among youth and conduct a study exploring the pathways to extremism in the Maldives.

Her work then led her to join UNODC’s Regional Network on Preventing Violent Extremism in South Asia (SAN-PVE). This network brings together stakeholders, including from the public sector and civil society, to address common challenges, offer joint solutions, and foster collaborations in response to violent extremism.

The spread of violent extremism – and the messages of intolerance advocated by extremist groups – have had dire impacts across the world.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated “Millions of people have fled the territory controlled by terrorist and violent extremist groups. Migratory flows have increased both away, from, and towards the conflict zones - involving those seeking safety and those lured into the conflict as foreign terrorist fighters, further destabilizing the regions concerned.”

Antonio Guterres added “we must also acknowledge that it does not arise in a vacuum. Narratives of grievance, actual or perceived injustice, promised empowerment and sweeping change become attractive where human rights are being violated, good governance is being ignored and aspirations are being crushed.”

As emphasized in the UN Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, Member States’ efforts to prevent violent extremism (PVE) should be embedded into a comprehensive whole-of-society approach. Engaging civil society organizations and communities and empowering youth and women in PVE framework is therefore key to fostering resilience against violent extremism through inclusive, community-led and community-focused initiatives.

“Creating space for open communication and mutual respect is essential in preventing violent extremism and promoting inclusivity,” Shahu agrees. “When you bring together the community, civil society organizations, legislators, and experts in PVE on one platform, we gain a better understanding of the severity of the problem and understand what needs to be done to tackle it.”