Reform Counter Terrorism Policy to Mainstream Gender and Youths
By The COAST Reporter
Email. thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
There is urgent need to reform related policy on prevention and counter violent extremism (PCVE) incorporate gender and youth so as to ensure full participation of communities at the grassroots levels.
Women being central actors in PCVE and well connected to the cultural, social and political fabric of their communities, stand on a pivotal role to identify early warning signs of radicalization or terrorism acts.
This came to the open during inter-country’s PCVE exchange and learning dialogue on strategies in Kenya and Indonesia attended by the two nations’ counter terrorism officials, civil society organizations in peace, and security and international funders.
Kenya was represented by the National Counter Terrorism Centre chief liaison officer Joseph Kanyiri while Indonesia was represented by Andrika Chrisnayudhanto who is the deputy for international co-operation Indonesia Counter Terrorism Agency BNPT.
The meeting, brought together 17 civil society organisations in the area of peace, security and human rights that underscored the need to redefine security to include social justice, and protection of human rights,
This can be done through localisation initiatives that ensure unique social, cultural and political dynamics of each area was addressed.
Rick Van Der Woud, chief executive officer, Mensen met een Missie and JISRA consortium lead the dialogue noted the extensive efforts made to counter violent extremism threats in both Kenya and Indonesia through localised initiatives.
He observed the power of local initiatives in PCVE which according to him has the capacity to lay tangible local foundations in addressing violent extremism as local people understand how local criminal groups operate.
“The localization of National Action Plans to County Action Plans has played a key contribution in ensuring that women play their role in PCVE,” he noted.
The CEO added that there was need for peer-to-peer learning that would enable develop and implement recommendations to advance PCVE work.
He called on the two governments to address the issue of humiliation of youth and their suspicion of criminal activities noting that humiliation through use of words that hurt or reduce human dignity, thus creating ground for breeding support or denying actors the chance to understand how radicalisation works.
“Humiliation is a poison that creates division and can never be used as a tool of justice. Local religious leaders and government should work together to build action and resilient communities that would work against VE by pursuing aspects that promote human dignity.”
Kanyiri, on his part, said that Kenya has been able to reduce the effects of terrorism through the implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy which had been cascaded to the 47 counties and domesticated as County Action Plans.
The National Counter Terrorism Strategy which has been in place for the last eight years is now under review for the period between 2024-2029.
The government hopes that the document that underscores respect for constitutionalism, human rights and psychosocial support will be ready for implementation by January 2025.
The five-chapter document has gone through public participation to understand the lessons learnt, open more spaces, transform the pillars to working groups and give prominence to women youth and male mentors.
The high-level meeting under the joint initiative for strategic religious action in Kenya and and Indonesia brought together governments, international funders, and civil society actors in the peace and security sector in the two countries.
Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE), a Mombasa based peace and security nongovernmental body hosted the dialogue.
The meeting’s aim was to share, l.earn and reveal experiences and approaches in prevention and countering violent extremism in Kenya and Indonesia.
