Director-General/Executive Director
Under-Secretary-General Voronkov,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to thank UNOCT and the government of Spain for inviting UNODC to be part of this discussion.
The theme of today’s conference reminds us that to extinguish the flames of terrorism, we must stand in solidarity with its victims and invest in societal and individual education.
Education and awareness are our strongest weapons against terrorism. They promote understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, while empowering individuals and communities to reject the divisive and hateful narratives spread by terrorist groups, leading to more resilient societies.
And education contributes to economic development, helping to prevent the very conditions that allow terrorism to spread, by creating opportunities and addressing poverty and inequality as one of the root causes of radicalization.
Terrorists recognize this power, and they fear it, which is why in some places they target schools, students, and teachers.
They also manipulate and indoctrinate young minds, perpetuating a cycle of violence, ignorance, and hate, including through online spaces and the dark web.
Girls are disproportionately affected, as they are often denied an education and subjected to exploitation and gender-based violence at the hands of terrorist groups.
We all remember the tragic story of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram 10 years ago.
Sadly, a decade later, terrorism still plagues Nigeria.
Since December 2020, over a thousand children have been abducted by armed groups in the country, leading to the closure of more than 11,000 schools and over 5 million students being deprived of their education.
And around the world, conflict and violence are depriving millions of children of their education and the chance to pursue their dreams, from Gaza, to Lebanon, Afghanistan, and beyond.
If we are to protect future generations and give hope to victims of terrorism, we must prioritize education.
At UNODC, we are committed to strengthening global efforts to promote education as a means of preventing terrorism and empowering victims.
Last year in Indonesia, we trained 46 counsellors and reached over 15,000 children across 17 schools to enhance their resilience against terrorist propaganda.
And we developed a publication promoting the stories of victims of terrorism in Indonesia, which reached over 8,000 young people in the country, to help promote peace and delegitimize terrorist propaganda.
In Nigeria, we mentored 16 Youth Peace Champions to foster a culture of dialogue and peace in communities affected by terrorism.
In Iraq, we worked with civil society organizations to provide psycho-social support to victims of terrorism and help identify gaps in legislation related to the status of victims receiving assistance.
We also developed a campaign in Iraq to give a voice to victims of terrorism, showcasing their resilience, strength, and the power of their voices to counter terrorist narratives, while helping them recover from their trauma.
And in collaboration with UNOCT and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, we developed model legislative provisions to promote the role of education in addressing the needs of victims of terrorism.
Excellencies,
As we reflect on the importance of education, I am reminded of the powerful words of the inspiring young Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, who was attacked at the age of 15 for speaking out against restrictions on education.
She famously said that “one child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
Let us embrace her words and invest in education for a more peaceful, resilient, and understanding world, free from the grip of terror.
Thank you.
