The following statement on the issue of preventing violent extremism was issued
on 14 October 2016 on behalf of: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.
Principles for UN Global Leadership on Preventing Violent Extremism
Violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism is a generational challenge. It undermines social and political inclusion, spreads fear and hate, and threatens lives. International partners and/or multilateral organisations must now meet this challenge, led by a strong United Nations (UN). During the 10 year anniversary of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy earlier this year, the UN General Assembly called with one voice for action, including encouraging UN entities to implement within their mandates relevant recommendations from the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE). We Member States now call upon the UN to show strategic leadership and commitment to action.
PRINCIPLES FOR UN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ON PVE
Tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism requires an all-of-UN approach. We must encourage cooperation and make meaningful impact on the ground. We call upon the UN system to adopt the following principles as it implements the PVE Plan of Action.
Understanding – Develop a strong PVE evidence base on the full life-cycle of radicalisation to violence and effective practices to counter and prevent the spread of violent extremism. Research and analysis, including gender analysis, should draw on national experiences and be shared among all relevant UN entities.
Integrating – Explore the interface between wider UN work and PVE, including integrating PVE into strategic frameworks when relevant. It will not be appropriate or necessary for every issue to have a PVE angle, but the UN is well placed to identify opportunities where existing work could include PVE considerations.
Mobilising – Ensure appropriate resources and expertise to produce PVE policy advice and targeting of programme resources.
Communicating – Explain the strategic rationale and benefits of PVE activity at headquarters level, regionally and in the field, while employing communications tools to deliver targeted messages, and support to Member States in their efforts to do so, including when developing campaigns with counter and alternative narratives.
Coordinating – Strengthen its strategic policy and programme guidance to Member States based on an understanding of risk, vulnerabilities and gaps, including through close cooperation with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organisations and forums. The UN should also enhance collaboration among UN entities, particularly in the field.
OUR COMMITMENT AS MEMBER STATES
Tackling the global threat of violent extremism in line with these principles will require action and collaboration from the entire international community. In line with balanced implementation of all pillars of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, and as set out in the PVE Plan of Action, primary responsibility lies with Member States.
In support of the above principles, we Member States intend to: lead by example, by sharing lessons from our domestic experiences and relevant international and regional organisations; act upon the General Assembly’s call to develop and implement national and regional PVE Action Plans, and assist others Member States in doing so; and continue to examine support to UN-led PVE activity, including by providing expertise and programming and extra-budgetary support to UN entities,
ENHANCING THE UN’S COHERENCE AND IMPACT
The General Assembly in its Resolution A/RES/70/291 on 1 July requested the Secretary-General to review the capability of the UN system to assist Member States, upon request, in implementing the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in a balanced manner, and to provide concrete suggestions to the Assembly by May 2017. This is an opportunity to consider how PVE can be implemented within the Strategy and through an all-of-UN approach.
We encourage the current and next Secretary-General to:
re-examine the need to enhance coherence, coordination, and leadership of the UN system, to reflect the scale of threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism;
conduct a consultative process with Member States, which can continue throughout the transition of the Secretary General in 2017;
present options for strengthening the UN CT architecture by May 2017 at the latest that address the relationships between the UN CT bodies and the mobilisation of UN entities.