This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On July 10, 2019, I had the privilege of moderating a meeting with women's groups for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who aimed to understand the role of women in preventing or instigating violent extremism. The secretary-general noted, 'The women activists I met in Nairobi are among the many women across Africa who are leading the way in preventing the expansion of violent extremism from within their own communities. Women are on the frontlines of this fight: we must listen to them and support their efforts.'
Recent efforts to involve women in activities to combat radicalization are encouraging, considering that for a long time, gender and security have been a blind-spot in counter-terrorism programs.
As Yanar Mohammed, co-founder and president of the Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq, said during the UNSC's open debate on Resolution 2242: 'Improving women's participation in efforts to counter extremism and build peace is not just a normative concern about equality; including women's insights offers a strategic advantage to those looking to build lasting peace and prevent conflict and violent extremism.'
Women have been portrayed as victims, perpetrators, and lately, preventers of terrorism. However, the social construct of femininity was often expressed as one of subservience to men in the context of violent extremism. Media coverage of women affiliated to radical groups often portrayed female recruits as docile followers of their partners.
However, this stereotypical portrayal of women as harmless undermined the accuracy of counter-radicalization policies and operational responses, entailing a missed opportunity in the war on violent extremism.
In Kosovo, women were the first to detect unusual patterns of behavior and activity in their homes and communities, including stockpiling of weapons. These signs were reported well before violence broke out.
Despite the acknowledgement of the role women can play in preventing violent extremism, several current national approaches to violent extremism are not adequately gendered. In Kenya, there are encouraging signs that this narrative is changing, with the county government launching a strategic counter-terrorism strategy that includes prioritizing meaningful inclusion of women in the development and implementation of CVE approaches.
