Member States call on UNESCO to help prevent violent extremism through education

UNESCO’s work in this area will be undertaken within the framework of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of Target 4.7 of the 2030 Education Agenda and the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (A/70/674) that was publicly released in January 2016.

Member States adopted a landmark decision (Decision 197EX/46) to enhance UNESCO’s role in preventing violent extremism through education. 

During the October 2015 session of UNESCO’s Executive Board, concerned with the global challenge of radicalization of young people and repeated incidences of terrorist attacks around the world, countries reaffirmed the Organization’s long standing purpose to “contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education […] in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world”.

The decision encourages the Director-General of UNESCO to enhance the Organization’s capacity to provide assistance to States as they work to find creative educational pathways and strategies to help prevent violent extremism.

Further to the Executive Board Decision, Ms Soo-hyang Choi, Director for Inclusion, Peace and Sustainable Development within the Education Sector was designated as Focal Point on education to prevent violent extremism.