Editorial
International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, 12 February
Violent extremism is an affront to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. It undermines peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. No country or region is immune from its impacts.
Violent extremism is a diverse phenomenon without a clear definition. It is neither new nor exclusive to any region, nationality or system of belief. Nevertheless, in recent years, terrorist groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and Boko Haram have shaped our image of violent extremism and the debate on addressing this threat. These groups’ message of intolerance — religious, cultural, and social — has had drastic consequences for many regions of the world. Holding territory and using social media for real-time communication of their atrocious crimes, they seek to challenge our shared values of peace, justice and human dignity.
The spread of violent extremism has further aggravated an already unprecedented humanitarian crisis that surpasses any region’s boundaries. Millions of people have fled territories controlled by terrorist and violent extremist groups. Migratory flows have increased away, from, and towards the conflict zones – involving those seeking safety and those lured into the conflict as foreign terrorist fighters, further destabilizing the regions concerned.
Nothing can justify violent extremism, but we must also acknowledge that it does not arise in a vacuum. Narratives of grievance, actual or perceived injustice, promised empowerment and sweeping change become attractive where human rights are being violated, good governance is being ignored, and aspirations are being crushed.
In its resolution 77/243, the General Assembly decided to declare 12 February the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, to raise awareness of the threats linked to violent extremism, as and when conducive to terrorism, and to enhance international cooperation in this regard.
The General Assembly emphasized in this context the primary responsibility of the Member States and their respective national institutions in countering terrorism and underlined the critical role of intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia, religious leaders and the media in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism.
The resolution reaffirmed that terrorism and violent extremism, as and when conducive to terrorism, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
The General Assembly invited the Office of Counter-Terrorism, in collaboration with other relevant entities of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, to facilitate the observance of International Day.
The state of Pakistan is also facing the major challenge of extremism. Hence, international day stresses the need to counter the menace. Pakistan requires a functional state plan to counter it involving the organizations and associations of society. The state should monopolize all religious and other narratives. Individuals and groups should not lead the descriptions which are against the constitution. Political and economic empowerment is critical, along with the writ of the state and the rule of law. There is a need to revisit national policies. State organizations must revoke patronage, and social and cultural actualization is essential.
Lastly, the state and society must comprehend that extremism is cancer for a functional state and society.https://republicpolicy.com/the-denial-by-the-state-of-pakistan-towards-religious-extremism-and-torture/
