Jan 20 2016 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Unite Against Violent Extremism
Ban Ki-moon
UN's five-point Plan of Action to fight terror is a
practical and comprehensive approach
Violent extremism is a direct assault on the United Nations
Charter and a grave threat to international peace and security .
Terrorist groups such as Daesh, Boko Haram and others have
brazenly kidnapped young girls, systematically denied women's rights, destroyed
cultural institutions, warped the peaceful values of religions, and brutally
murdered thousands of innocents around the world.These groups have become a
magnet for foreign terrorist fighters, who are easy prey to simplistic appeals
and siren songs.
The threat of violent extremism is not limited to any one
religion, nationality or ethnic group. Today , the vast majority of victims
worldwide are Muslims.Addressing this challenge requires a unified response,
and compels us to act in away that solves rather than multiplies the
problem.
Many years of experience have proven that short-sighted
policies, failed leadership, heavy-handed approaches, a single-minded focus
only on security measures and an utter disregard for human rights have often
made things worse.
Let us never forget: Terrorist groups are not just seeking
to unleash violent action, but to provoke a harsh reaction.We need cool heads
and common sense.We must never be ruled by fear or provoked by those who
strive to exploit it.Countering violent extremism should not be
counter-productive.
Last week, on 15 January , I presented to the United Nations
General Assembly a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which takes a
practical and comprehensive approach to address the drivers of this menace.
It focuses on violent extremism which can be conducive to
terrorism.The Plan puts forward more than 70 recommendations for concerted
action at the global, regional and national levels, based on five inter-related
points:
Number one, we must put prevention first:
The international community has every right to defend
against this threat using lawful means, but we must pay particular attention to
addressing the causes of violent extremism if this problem is to be resolved in
the long run.
There is no single pathway to violent extremism. But we know
that extremism flourishes when human rights are violated, political space is
shrunk, aspirations for inclusion are ignored, and too many people especially
young people lack prospects and meaning in their lives.
As we see in Syria and Libya and elsewhere, violent
extremists make unresolved and prolonged conflicts even more intractable.
We also know the critical elements for success: Good
governance. The rule of law. Political participation. Quality education and
decent jobs. Full respect for human rights.
We need to make a special effort to reach out to young
people and recognise their potential as peacebuilders. The protection and
empowerment of women must also be central to our response.
Second, principled leadership and effective institutions:
Poisonous ideologies do not emerge from thin air.Oppression,
corruption and injustice are greenhouses for resentment. Extremists are adept
at cultivating alienation.
That is why I have been urging leaders to work harder to
build inclusive institutions that are truly accountable to people.I will
continue to call on leaders to listen carefully to the grievances of their
people and then act to address them.
Third, preventing extremism and promoting human rights go
hand-inhand:
All too often, national counterterrorism strategies have
lacked basic elements of due process and respect for the rule of law. Sweeping
definitions of terrorism or violent extremism are often used to criminalise the
legitimate actions of opposition groups, civil society organisations and human
rights defenders. Governments should not use these types of sweeping
definitions as a pretext to attack or silence one's critics.
Once again, violent extremists deliberately seek to incite
such overreaction. We must not fall into the trap.
Fourth, an all-out approach:
The Plan proposes an “all of Government“ approach. We must
break down the silos between the peace and security , sustainable development,
human rights and humanitarian actors at the national, regional and global
levels including at the United Nations.
The Plan also recognises that there are no “one size fits
all“ solutions. We must also engage all of society religious leaders, women
leaders, youth groups, leaders in the arts, music and sports, as well as the
media and private sector.
Fifth, UN engagement:
I intend to strengthen a UN system-wide approach to
supporting Member States' efforts to address the drivers of violent extremism.
Above all, the Plan is an urgent call to unity and action
that seeks to address this scourge in all its complexity . Together, let us
pledge to forge a new global partnership to prevent violent extremism.
The writer is Secretary-General of the United Nations
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