WORKSHOP ON PREVENTION AND COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM FOR SAN PVE STAKEHOLDERS
June 12, 20231. Terrorism and Violent Extremism violate the human rights and fundamental freedoms of groups and individuals. Aftermath of devastating Easter Sunday attack in the year 2019, the importance of the Prevention of Violent Extremism was identified and discussed at the highest level of National Security Forums. It also recognized that this Violent Extremism is not limited only to Sri Lanka but also at the global level. Therefore, the effort of Countering and Prevention of Violent Extremism(C/PVE) should be synergize at regionally and globally. Hence, the government of Sri Lanka together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) implemented South Asian Network on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism of Violent Extremism (SAN PVE) from 2018. The member states of this network at present are Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
2. The regional PVE network is designed to serve as a tool supporting further development of legal and operational frameworks, strategies and plans with a view to prevent and counter violent extremism leading to terrorism, including rehabilitation and reintegration procedures, as well as the inclusion of civil society. Based on the discussions on regional priorities and needs, following thematic priorities were identified:
a. Rehabilitation and Reintegration.
b. Law enforcement and criminal justice.
c. Education and Religious affairs.
d. Communication and Narratives.
e. Civil society and local communities.
3. Then National Focal Points for the Advisory Board were selected from following Ministries:
a. Ministry of Defence
b. Ministry of Justice
c. Foreign Ministry
4. Under the five themes selected and agreed by the SAN PVE members, five Thematic Working Groups (TWG) were formed and Institutions/Ministries to represent Thematic Working Groups are decided as follows:
a. Rehabilitation and Reintegration - Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence , Ministry of Women’s Affairs
b. Law enforcement and criminal justice - Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence ,Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, Attorney General's Department, National Child Protection Authority, Financial Intelligence Unit, SL CERT
c. Education, Religious Affairs, Communication & Narratives – Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs (National Youth Service Council), Ministry of Education, INSS, National Cadet Corps, HELVETAS.
d. Civil Society and Local Communities - National Secretariat for NGOs, Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, National Youth Council, National Cadet Corps, HELVETAS.
e. Strategic Communication and Narratives - Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Defence (DMI), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Technology, Ministry of Mass Media, National Youth Service Council,.
5. As countering violent extremism is utmost important aspect, contribution of above mentioned institutions and ministries in this effort are essential. Therefore, considering the timely requirement of Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism in the region, a workshop has been arranged by the Ministry of Defence as a National Contact Point of the SAN PVE regional network. The main purpose of this workshop was to raise awareness among the Thematic Working Group members and to formulate a road map to create National Strategy to prevent and counter radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism within the country.
6. The resource personnel of the workshop were as follows:
a. Prof Rasheen Bappu (Prof in Anthropology and Data Analysis) - “Multi-dimensional Analysis and P/CVE to Strengthen National Security”.
b. Lt Col RT Ansar RSP USP psc Isc - Detection /Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism from Army HQ
c. Ms. Hasanthi Kahandawala HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (Sri Lanka) - Sharing
d. Mrs. Subhashi Dissanayake , the country director HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (Sri Lanka) on behalf of the INGO provided financial support to conduct the workshop.
Altogether 60 personnel from following inter-government ministries and institutions participated in the workshop:
a. Ministry of Finance and Economics
b. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
c. Ministry of Education
d. Ministry of Mass Media
e. Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and cultural affairs
f. Ministry of Public Security
g. Ministry of Women Affairs
h. Ministry of Technology
i. Ministry of Justice(Attorney Generals Department)
j. Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs
k. Bureau of Rehabilitation
l. National Secretariat for non-government organizations
m. National Cadet Corps
n. Financial Intelligence Unit
o. National Child Protection Authority
p. National Youth Service Council
q. SL CERT
r. INSS
s. Social service Department
Opening remarks was given by National Focal Point of SAN PVE of Ministry of Defence, marking the official commencement of the workshop. He stated the purpose and importance of the workshop and explained with regard to the newly established “National Authority on Prevention and Countering Radicalization, Violent Extremism, and Terrorism” under the guidance of Security Council. Later, three resource personnel conducted their presentations according to the agenda and at the end Prof Rasheen Bappu conducted the Group Activity and Discussion along five thematic areas. Finally, the workshop was concluded with certificate awarding ceremony and concluding remarks given by the National Focal Point.