South-East Asia remains affected by the threat of violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). To effectively address this multi-faceted and complex phenomenon, a comprehensive response, which considers the underlying conditions conducive to radicalization and violent extremism, is needed. At the same time, it should also offer effective solutions to rehabilitate and reintegrate FTFs and their family members in full compliance with international human rights standards.
The UN Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism emphasizes that Member States’ efforts to prevent violent extremism (PVE) should be embedded in whole-of-society and multi-disciplinary approaches. In line with this call, UNODC has been supporting South-East Asian countries in establishing a network of PVE practitioners in the region. By bringing together government and civil society stakeholders, the network is designed to facilitate regional cooperation, peer learning and sharing of knowledge and good practices in PVE. The initiative, which is the joint product of UNODC and the Government of Japan, was initiated in 2018.