The International Conference on Preventing and Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism as related to the Foreign Terrorist Fighter (FTF) Threat was organized by UNODC in cooperation with the Hedayah Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi from 26 to 28 April 2016.
The purpose of the conference was to address policy and criminal justice strategies to radicalization to violence, in the context of the FTF-related threat, through the exchange of experiences and good practices among the Gulf, Middle Eastern and North African countries, as well as Afghanistan. Gathering more than 70 senior experts from the participating countries and from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, the event provided a framework for presentations and in-depth discussions on practical aspects, such as building and implementing an efficient and rule of law-based national strategy for countering violent extremism, addressing investigative and prosecutorial challenges of violent extremism related terrorist offences, the use of the Internet for recruitment and training purposes by terrorist organizations, as well as radicalization to violence in prison settings and challenges related to returning FTFs.
The conference also focused on the key role of civil society, in particular through victims of terrorism representatives, in developing preventive approaches and countering terrorist narratives, as well as of the private sector, particularly in light of the essential cooperation with relevant national entities.
The international conference in Abu Dhabi was a follow-up to two previous regional events held in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 and 2014. It is also part of the increasing cooperation and partnership of the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch with Member States of the Gulf region at the bilateral, regional or international levels with several projects in the pipeline. The Conference was organized thanks to the generous support of the Government of Japan.
