FRAMING DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM 13-15 June 2016 Dushanbe, Tajikistan
High-Level Experts Meeting on Finding Development Solutions to Preventing Violent Extremism I.
Background
Violent extremism in the Europe and CIS region threatens to reverse the development gains made over the past twenty years and is seriously challenging governance, security and social structures at a highly volatile time. In some cases, the rise of violent extremism, combined with long-term economic stagnation, and a history of conflict and structural governance failures are posing fundamental challenges to states’ territorial integrity. Naturally, some areas are more impacted than others with the situation in parts of the Western Balkans, Turkey and the Caucuses being particularly challenging. More recently, the threat level has been increasing substantially in Central Asia.
Figure 1: Terror Attacks in Central Asia and Turkey 2004-2014 Source: START Global Terrorism Database
The spread of radicalization especially among young people is an imminent threat to peace, stability and development. The absolutist ideology that informs current trends of radicalization rejects progress and coexistence and represents an existential threat to many countries. Such ideology has found a pool of recruits in some young adults, many of whom believe they have been failed by the institutions of the state and excluded from legitimate political and economic processes. They have engaged in extreme and violent behavior to reflect their non-acceptance of the status quo in an attempt to reconfigure the state and its institutions along the lines of their new convictions. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- as the leading development agency of the UN intends to support regional governments, organizations and the public in developing practical preventative solutions to this critical challenge from a development perspective. UNDP has organized three high-level expert meetings on radicalization - Istanbul, Turkey in May 2014, Nairobi, Kenya in June 2015 and Oslo, Norway in March 2016 – to bring together global experts on radicalization in an effort to explore the linkages between radicalization, development, conflict and violence prevention, and to formulate human rights-based development solutions to the prevention of violent extremism. The meetings in Istanbul and Nairobi have helped formulate UNDP responses to the key challenges being faced – and how development and preventative responses might best be honed. The meetings recognized that radicalization is largely context driven, and while it can flourish on the basis of shared grievances, it is not necessarily or always ideologically driven. All of these elements present challenges for establishing a common and universally applicable definition of radicalization - and by implication - challenges in developing coherent responses. The violent extremism that is most well-known concerns individuals who leave their country to become foreign terrorist fighters or to work for extremist groups. The latest available data concerning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) that left the ECIS region for Syria comes from the beginning of 2015 and is upwards of Figure 2: Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) by Country 4,200. More than Source: ICSR January 2015 1,400 of the FTFs came from Central Asian countries, 600 from Turkey, and between 800 and 1,500 originating from the Russian Federation. At the time, there were an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters in Syria, now there are estimated to be around 30,000. The strain that has resulted in the actions of ISIS and other extremists groups can be seen in the various crises that have resulted in Turkey and the Western Balkans. Extremist organizations – both outsiders (such as ISIS) and insiders to the Central Asian context (such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)) actively seek to recruit new followers in the region, using both traditional networks and social media. New forms of media provide a 2
very dynamic outlet for recruitment and extremist propaganda. These organizations exploit problems that the countries in the region face – the lack of livelihood opportunities, patterns of exclusion and inequality, governance failures - to prey on vulnerable members of society, such as unemployed young adult men and women and groom them accordingly. The current economic crisis exacerbates many of the problems and leads to more grievances and frustration on the part of various societal groups, it also creates an environment where violent extremism becomes an attractive employment option in the face of shrinking labor markets. In both Central Asia and Russia, a particular challenge is posed by socially vulnerable individuals from Central Asian countries that have migrated to Russia for work. This creates a twofold problem in that migrants to Russia are especially vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment as they often lack the social resilience they would normally rely on in their home community, and the importance of remittances to the economic sustainability of the communities of origin create another type of vulnerability to radicalization and recruitment. Further exacerbating this is the return of foreign fighters into already fraught economic and social situations without programmes that are able to reintegrate or de-radicalize them. Prevention is key and successful programming needs to intervene before individuals and indeed entire communities become radicalized or engaged with extremist groups. UNDP’s involvement in preventing the conditions conducive to violent extremism is rooted in its mandate for the building of national capacities for development and – through in particular the DPA/UNDP Joint Programme - the UN’s contribution to peace and security. UNDP recognizes that human rights, development, peace and security are mutually reinforcing and inter-dependent. Therefore UNDP’s approach is to contribute to a range of solutions and mechanisms so as to prevent extremism and to strengthen capacities of institutions, national mechanisms, groups and communities in the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies. This approach enhances public and group confidence in the institutions of the state and society, in the peaceful resolution and management of differences and conflict, strengthens inter-group relations and cohesion, and ensures the protection and promotion of human rights as key to sustainable development of countries. II. Rationale and Objectives of the Consultation Methodology There is a consensus emerging that the best means of preventing acts of violent extremism is the appropriate balancing of both development and security responses. To this end, the UN Security Council passed resolution S/RES/2178/2014 wherein it condemned violent extremism, and called on Member States to support efforts to adopt longer-term solutions rooted in addressing the underlying causes of radicalization and violent extremism, including by empowering youth. According to the resolution, addressing the threat will require “promoting political and religious tolerance, economic development and social cohesion and inclusiveness, ending and resolving armed conflicts, and facilitating reintegration and rehabilitation.” Secretary-General’s Plan of Action for Preventing Violent Extremism. The Plan of Action addresses the prevention of violent extremism by focusing on the conditions conducive to radicalization and violent extremism. The Plan of Action seeks to expand the responses available in order to “complement the countering of violent extremism with preventative measures.”
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The recent remarks of the Secretary-General to the Security Council Open Debate on “Security, Development and the Root Causes of Conflict” highlighted this approach: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development builds on that understanding by taking an integrated approach, and by including Goal 16 on achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice and building accountable institutions. Today’s violent conflicts and violent extremism are often rooted in a mix of exclusion, inequality, mismanagement of natural resources, corruption, oppression, governance failures, and the frustration and alienation that accompany a lack of jobs and opportunities. Yet our responses have not caught up to these realities. We are not yet properly integrating United Nations action across the inter-dependent pillars of our work: peace, development and human rights.” The meeting has thus been designed to take into account Sustainable Development Goal 16 as well as the need to balance concerns of security with prevention. In keeping with UN systemic cooperation the meeting will also take into account the UNRCCA’s Programme of Action for 2016-2017 Key Priorities, and DPA/CTITF activities in Central Asia, so as to best respond in a cohesive and integrated manner to the conditions conducive to radicalization. A Framing Paper will be developed which will highlight successes and failures in addressing radicalization in Central Asia and what UNDP and its partners might do differently. The meeting will scrutinize the existing approaches to preventing radicalization (the role of social media in counter narratives and deradicalization, ongoing engagement between religious leaders and state authorities, economic empowerment opportunities for young adults, etc.), in order to determine what has been learned and the reasons behind the limited success of current methods. For the purposes of creating new and innovative approaches for the prevention of violent extremism the meeting will look to identify new and workable development-based solutions that are anchored on a thorough understanding of the context and the nature of the problem. The meeting has been formulated based on the need to:
Identify regional priorities and initiatives to address violent extremism in Central Asia and the broader region, including - information sharing, a common system of measurement, support to governments, national institutions, research centres, civil society and community groups in impacted contexts. Determine key partnerships for strengthening at the local, national, regional and international level in order to leverage the full gamut of expertise available and consummate with UNDP’s position and range of partnerships. Explore programmes, policies and strategic activities that can be brought to bear in order to contribute to UNDP’s common work in preventing violent extremism.
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Meeting Objectives The main objective of the meeting is to advance our understanding of radicalization in Central Asia and the broader region and find human rights-based development solutions for national and regional responses to radicalization and violent extremism. The meeting will further function as the basis for developing a UNDP programme to address radicalization in Central Asia and positioning UNDP as a lead policy and practice actor and a partner of choice for development programming in this area. The specific objectives of the meeting include the following: Develop a common understanding of radicalization in Central Asia, the regional and local ideologies and forms that it takes, the groups that are vulnerable to it, and its impact on development in Central Asia; Examine current approaches to the prevention of violent extremism, including the use of social and other forms of media, their successes, failures and gaps; Identify entry points and opportunities for UNDP to formulate development programming which can effectively contribute to preventing the conditions conducive to radicalization; Understand the gender differentiated roles played by men and women in extremist organizations, and the necessity for a gender-sensitive approach to preventing violent extremism; and Focus on the vulnerability of young adults, both men and women, and the need for engagement and opening of economic and social opportunities for them. Meeting Deliverables
The meeting deliverables are: Shared understanding of radicalization, its manifestations and impact; Unified recognition of applicable programmatic response on prevention and mitigation; Agreement on methodological approaches for monitoring and evaluation Establish a sub-regional informational sharing platform; linked to the establishment of a regional platform for RBEC wide cooperation of PVE [advocacy and programming]; Identification of resource mobilization strategy; Development of new partnerships with CSOs, religious leaders, etc.
The above deliverables would be rolled into a new approach for UNDP to preventing violent extremism in the ECIS region as part of the organization’s global strategy. 5
III.
Consultation Parameters and Participation
The meeting will engage experts and practitioners by sharing their own best practices, lessons learned and experiences. The format will include panels and presentations, group discussions, experience sharing and plenary exercises. The working language of the consultation will be English (and Russian). Participation Participation at the meeting will include around 70 participants drawn from partner institutions; academia, research centers, religious and community leaders, de-radicalized individuals, former FTF, civil society organizations, governments, regional organizations and other agencies and departments of the United Nations system in the region (e.g., UNICEF, UNRCCA). Logistics The consultation will take place over 3 days (13-15 June 2016) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The venue, agenda and additional logistical details will be developed in due course.
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High-Level Experts Meeting on Finding Development Solutions to Preventing Violent Extremism Objectives, Outputs, Agenda and Participation 13-15 June, 2016 Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Objectives Advance understanding of, and effective preventative measures against, radicalization that leads to violent extremism in Central Asia and the broader region. The meeting’s focus will be on highlighting practical, context-specific initiatives which balance human rights, development and security considerations. To accomplish this objective the meeting should:
Develop a common understanding of radicalization in Central Asia; the groups that are vulnerable to it, and its impact on development objectives in Central Asia; Examine current approaches to the prevention of violent extremism their successes, failures and gaps; Identify entry points and opportunities for new/adjusted and rights-based development programming at all levels, which can effectively contribute to preventing the conditions conducive to radicalization; Understand the gender differentiated roles played by men and women in extremist organizations, and the necessity for a gender-sensitive approach to preventing violent extremism; and Focus on the vulnerability of young adults, both men and women, and the need for engagement and opening of economic and social opportunities and voice for them.
Outputs
Shared understanding of radicalization, its manifestations and impact; Common recognition of suitable and human rights-based programmatic strategies for prevention and mitigation; Agreement on methodological approaches for monitoring and evaluation; Establish a regional community of practice based on the existing information-sharing platform; Development of new partnerships with CSOs, religious leaders, and others.
Background Papers In order to properly frame the meeting and ensure the time can be utilized for the development of common approaches, the following regionally-specific background papers will be commissioned in line with the substance of the envisioned discussions and to be prepared by UNDP’s regional partner EDAM:
Gender Dimensions and VE Migration and VE Youth and VE Inequality and VE Community resilience & VE
In addition, a sub-regional contextual paper on the prevailing dynamics of VE in Central Asia has already been commissioned and is being peerreviewed.
DRAFT Agenda Monday 13th June (Day 1) The first day will focus on understanding the challenges and the needs of the region concerning the conditions conducive to radicalization that leads to violent extremism. The first day will also be run as the “high level day” where senior officials from Dushanbe will join.
Time 9:00 – 9:30
Topic Registration Session 1: Welcome and Introduction
9:30 – 10:30
Welcome Remarks – FM Aslav & ASG Sultanoğlu Keynote Speech – Expert of global stature (TBD); Development/Prevention focused speech tailored to the regional context 8
Format – Formal plenary
10:30-10:45
Coffee Break Session 2: The Journey to Violent Extremism
10:45 - 12:30
Introduction – Overview of the context of radicalization and violent extremism in Central Asia and nearby region – INGO Radicalization– What is radicalization also covering pyscho-social, identity factors – Academic Recruitment – The means and modes of radicalization and recruitment into extremist organizations – Academic Migration – Vulnerability to radicalization of the migrant community– CSO
Format – Facilitated Plenary Session; Questions & Answers
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch Session 3: Structural factors behind radicalization & violent extremism
14:00 – 15:30
15:30 – 16:00
The Structural Factors Behind VE - Economic-livelihood factors, inequalities, service provision gaps, migration pressures - UN speaker Gender Dimensions – The different ways that men and women are influenced/impacted – CSO or UN expert on gender Youth Dimensions – How the young are influenced/impacted- CSO or UN expert The Evidence Base – The knowns, the unknowns and the gaps in knowledge - Academic Format – Facilitated Plenary Session; Questions & Answers
Tea Break Session 4: Working Groups on factors behind violent extremism in Central Asia
16:00 – 18:00
Gender Youth marginalization Migration 9
Inequalities in socio-economic, political, and cultural realms Weak governance and rights protection (delivery of public services/justice)
Format – Working Groups with rapporteurs; leads to be identified by facilitator
Tuesday 14th June (Day 2) The second day will focus on a current approaches and tools available for preventing violent extremism within the region and abroad, as well as an overview of specific development solutions.
Time 9:00- 10:30
Topic Session 1: Recap of Day 1 – Report Back from Working Groups Format – Facilitator to ask rapporteurs to report back with a view to preventative approaches
1030-1100
Coffee Break Session 2: Introduction to Preventing Violent Extremism
11:00-12:00
What is a preventive approach? – Introduction to the approach and the tools available -CSO expert What is the link to securitized responses? And the UN’s overarching framework – OHCR or CTITF or UNRCCA What is the role of resilience and how can it be nurtured/measured? Introduction to the approach and the tools available –Academic/UN Expert The Human rights-based Approach – The denial of access to justice and human rights and social injustice – UN speaker
Format - Panel discussion in plenary with Q & A
12:00-13:30
Session 3: International, Regional and Local Approaches to PVE 10
UNDP’s approach - UNDP HQ International Partners’ approaches - EU, US or other Local responses – Grassroots approaches – CSO Intra-religious dialogue – Dialogue within a religious community – Religious Leaders Platform for regional information sharing and coordination – Different approaches for building– CSO
Format – Davos Style Discussion in plenary with Q & A
13:30 – 14:30
Lunch Session 4: Development Solutions and Gaps to date in Central Asia Based on a common understanding of the context and challenges as well as the preventative approaches employed, this session will capture what has been achieved and what remains to be done in terms of PVE work in a variety of sectors.
14:30- 16:00
Group 1 – Lead by NGO expert and UNDP o Jobs, livelihoods and tackling inequalities o Public service delivery o Migration
Group 2 - Lead by Youth Expert and UNDP o Youth issues o Education and training o Media, communications and counter-narratives
Group 3 – Lead by Social Cohesion Expert and UNDP o Women’s empowerment o Religious leaders’ engagement o Inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue o Community – law enforcement engagement
Format - Working Groups – 2 person leads (one of which is UNDP to guide development aspect and report back)
16:00 – 16:30
Tea Break
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Session 5: Development Solutions Report Back Report back from working groups and Q & A
16:30 – 17:30
Group 1 – UNDP lead report back Group 2 - UNDP lead report back Group 3 - UNDP lead report back
Format – Full plenary
Wednesday 15th June (Day 3) The third day will focus on identifying existing response gaps in the region and formulating future response and recommendations.
Time
Topic
9:00- 10:00
Session 1: Recap of Day 2 & Synthesis of Session 4 Feedback
Session 2: Future Responses – Multi-Dimensional Development Responses to PVE Based on needs, gaps and current responses, what are the things that parties (governments, IOs, CSOs and others) need to be doing in the region for a more effective, joined-up response to PVE.
10:00 - 1100 Outcome: 3-5 concrete regional recommendations to address each need.
Research needs (discussion led by regional CSO) Dialogue needs (discussion led by I-NGO) Programming needs (discussion led by UN)
Format: Plenary session
11:00-11:30
Coffee Break 12
Session 2: Future Responses – Multi-Dimensional Development Responses to PVE (Continued) 11:30- 13:00
Coordination needs (discussion led by UNDP) Capacity needs (discussion led by UN) Resource needs (discussion led by partners)
Format: Plenary session
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch Session 3: Meeting Conclusions and Recommendations
14:00 – 15:00
Preliminary presentation of recommendations – UNDP Closing Speeches – Government & UNDP Representative
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