Media literacy to prevent violent extremism focus of OSCE workshop

On 2 June 2022, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD/ATU) held an interactive workshop on media literacy to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT), in which 26 OSCE-trained facilitators from South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia participated.  

Using scenario-based exercises, the participants explored how information disorder is exploited by various actors including violent extremist organizations, and to what ends. Participants also reinforced their knowledge of the importance of media and information literacy to address VERLT and disinformation in a human rights compliant manner; and explored possible roles for civil society.

The workshop was implemented under the OSCE Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE) initiative, a flagship training programme that seeks to build the resilience and capacity of communities.

The training is part of TNTD/ATU’s and the OSCE field operations efforts tobuild an enduring LIVE Community of Practice of LIVE facilitators.

The OSCE’s LIVE Initiative consists of three different training courses tailored to youth, women and community leaders across the OSCE area. From 2018 to 2021, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE field operations, delivered a series of regional LIVE train-the-trainer seminars for South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and supported OSCE field operations in their implementation of national LIVE training courses.