23 April 2025, Islamabad — In a continued effort to prevent violent extremism and promote inclusive, community-driven narratives in Pakistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), organized a three-day workshop from 21-23 April 2025 in Islamabad.
Funded by the EU and held under the framework of the Communications and Narratives Network, the workshop provided a collaborative platform for government officials, media professionals, civil society actors, academics, and community representatives to strengthen their capacities in crafting effective communications strategies aimed at countering extremist ideologies and promoting peace, tolerance, and social cohesion. Overall 31 participants attended, of which 14 were female.
The workshop opened with an overview of the current Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism landscape in Pakistan, exploring the social, economic, and cultural factors contributing to radicalization. Participants engaged in comprehensive situational analyses using SWOT and PESTEL frameworks to assess existing communications approaches and identify opportunities for impactful preventing violent extremism (PVE) interventions.
Discussions focused on the critical role of narrative building in PVE, emphasizing the need for tailored messaging that resonates with diverse communities, challenges extremist propaganda, and look after social resilience. Expert-led sessions introduced participants to global best practices for communications in PVE contexts, highlighting the use of social media platforms to strengthen positive messaging and counter hate speech. Media specialists and representatives from Shaoor Foundation, Kiran Foundation, and Interactive Resource Center facilitated dialogues on the importance of community-led initiatives, cross-sector collaborations, and diversified funding resources to ensure the sustainability of CVE communications efforts.
A key outcome of the workshop was the development of a one-year action plan and responsibility matrix for the Communications and Narratives Network. Through group exercises and collaborative planning, participants identified priority areas, assigned roles and responsibilities, and formulated an implementation roadmap to guide future PVE communications initiatives.
The action plan emphasizes inclusive and locally relevant messaging strategies, community engagement, and strengthened partnerships between government, civil society, and media stakeholders to counter extremist narratives effectively.
This initiative forms part of UNODC’s ongoing support to the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to strengthen resilience against violent extremism and build inclusive, peaceful communities. This activity marks a significant milestone of the project- CPTP, Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan. Funded by the EU and executed by UNODC, the project aims at empowering community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence. By enhancing capacities in narrative building and communications, and encouraging collaboration through dedicated networks, the workshop marks an important step toward sustained, coordinated, and community-centered PVE efforts in Pakistan.
