Abu Dhabi: While the UAE, together with its allies around the world, continues to engage actively in the global struggle against extremism and terrorism, there is still much to be done to identify the best ways of tackling the problem.
The statement was made by Maqsoud Kruse, executive director of Hedayah, the Abu Dhabi-based International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).
“To be realistic and frank,” he says, “we are still in need of systematic approaches to further understand the complexity of the phenomena of violent extremism.”
Only then, he says, will it be possible to develop “effective, tested and proven interventions which, once tested and proven, can emerge as a ‘good’ practice’ that is both ‘valid’ and ‘reliable’.”
As part of its work, Hedayah is now into its second year of an expanding Global Programme on the Development of National CVE Strategies. Part of this involves recognition that the drivers that contribute to the spread of extremism can be different in each country.
The National Strategies, Kruse says, must be long-term and inclusive. “We have learnt that we need to shift our thinking from focusing on the problem towards focusing on solutions, by providing the platform for generating ideas that can provide creative, innovative, and authentic interventions.”
Kruse adds, “Take the UAE as an example of a ‘Multi-Axiom’ national strategy that takes into consideration the development of the legal infrastructure to counter extremism; the important role of education; the promotion of tolerance, happiness and youth engagement; and the positive role of families, women, culture and religious moderation.”
In pursuit of this objective, Hedayah has built partnerships with governments, existing international and regional training centres and think tanks, relevant academic and research institutions and multilateral organisations, as well as CVE experts and relevant private sector and non-governmental organisations from around the world.
Officials note that besides Hedayah, the UAE has also been engaged in the launching of two other international initiatives designed to counter violent extremism, with a particular focus on the situation within the region.
One is the Sawab Centre, launched jointly with the United States, which is the first-ever multi-national online messaging and engagement programme in support of the Global Coalition Against Daesh.
Another is the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies that had as one of its key deliverables the establishment of the Muslim Council of Elders, an independent international body which brings together leading scholars to promote an accurate understanding of the message of Islam and the real nature of the tolerance that lies at its heart.
