General Women, Peace and Security

Governments have the primary responsibility for preventing extremism, but they can only succeed if  they work closely with civil society, including with young people and women. That is why Norway has initiated the launch of two civil-society networks. First, there is YouthCAN, which is a network of young people working together against violent extremism, not least by developing alternative narratives.

Secondly, deradicalization programmes must be complemented by counter-radicalization, which aims at providing the public with narratives to counter those of the terrorists. Our counter-radicalization programmes involve many important stakeholders, such as educational and religious institutions, youth organizations, media, women, victims of terrorist attacks and even former terrorists, at both the national and provincial levels.

The role of family and women is important in educating individuals and assimilating them into the communities.

Women should be included in all stages of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of counter-terrorism efforts.

The theme of this open debate is extremely important, because it calls us to strike terrorism at its very roots and where it must primarily be fought, namely, in the hearts and minds of men and women, in particular of those who are most at risk of radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups.