These guidelines have been produced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (“UNODC”) to reflect on the learning and knowledge-sharing that occurred during the project “Supporting Central Asian States to Strengthen National and Regional Frameworks for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism,” implemented during the years 2017 and 2018, funded by the government of Japan. Under the project UNODC provided capacity-building assistance to Central Asian states on the prevention and countering of violent extremism leading to terrorism (“P/CVE”). The project led to the establishment of the Regional Network on Preventing Violent Extremism (“PVE Network”).
The PVE Network is a regional coordination structure which seeks to: reduce the barriers to interagency interaction; contribute to the consolidation of the Central Asian expert community’s efforts; strengthen the capacities of experts in this field; create a more inclusive approach to P/CVE; facilitate the coordination of P/CVE policies at the regional level; strengthen regional identity and integrity; and support future research in the field.
These guidelines set out the menu of options available when creating P/CVE strategy. As the focus shifts to domestic threats, we must look at the causes behind violent extremism, as well as prevention. But there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach and programmes must be tailored considering overall goals, strengths, and situations. CSOs have a major role to play in P/CVE as well and should be leveraged along with other community partners. Many people, from former extremists, clergy, to the youth, have a role to play and can be included in successful P/CVE programmes. Success depends on being willing to adapt and change as quickly as the threat does.