OSCE presents handbook for law enforcement officers on understanding the role of gender in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism

More than 40 representatives of law enforcement agencies, government and practitioners as well as international organizations gathered in Vienna on 2 October 2019 for the official  launch of the OSCE handbook on Understanding the Role of Gender in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism: Good Practices for Law Enforcement. The handbook, the first of its kind, is the result of a two-year collaborative effort by experts on gender, security sector and countering violent extremism based on case studies from across the OSCE area.

“Violent extremism and radicalization to terrorism are highly gendered phenomena as they both affect and attract men and women, boys and girls in different ways. The criminal justice and law enforcement response has traditionally been focused on men, while overlooking women victims and perpetrators,” said Kathrin Quesada, the lead expert on the handbook. “It has been challenging to gather and compile the necessary data, but it was our objective to ensure that the most useful part of the handbook would be practical guidelines on how to effectively mainstream gender and incorporate a gender analysis in all aspects of the work that pertains to preventing and countering violent extremism.”

The handbook was funded by Norway and is available in English and Russian at www.osce.org/secretariat/420563

“Norway values equality and human rights as inseparable from true security,” said Ambassador Steffen Kongstad of the Norwegian Mission to the OSCE. “The integration of a gender perspective throughout our efforts is not only about equality, but about preventing violent extremism more effectively, and applying the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. We are pleased to be contributing to that.”

“Italy firmly believes in the need to incorporate gender-sensitive approaches to challenge violent extremism. We cannot afford any longer to address VERLT without ensuring gender mainstreaming activities in preventing and countering actions. Italy’s contribution ensures that this important handbook also becomes available to our Mediterranean partners for Co-operation, whose participation is key in addressing the phenomenon,” stated Ambassador Alessandro Azzoni, Permanent Representative of Italy to the OSCE.

An Arabic translation funded by Italy is currently being finalized and will be presented to representatives of the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation at a later stage.

The OSCE is a pioneer in advancing preventative approaches to violent extremism and terrorism. It works to support the development and implementation of impactful and safe policies and programmes to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT) in the OSCE’s participating States and Partners for Co-operation.In addition to today’s handbook launch, the handbook series on P/CVERLT includes:

• The Role of Civil Society in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism. A Guidebook for South-Eastern Europe
• Understanding Referral Mechanisms in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism Navigating Challenges and Protecting Human Rights A Guidebook for South-Eastern Europe
• Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community-Policing Approach
•  A whole-of-society approach to preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism. A guidebook for Central Asia”  (to be published end of 2019)
•  Good Practices in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism:  Non-Custodial Rehabilitation and Reintegration. A Guidebook for practitioners and policymakers in South-Eastern Europe  (to be published end of 2019)