Spotlight: ISS contributes to global discussions on countering violent extremism

At the UN General Assembly this week, the ISS will argue for counter-terrorism approaches rooted in development rather than just security.

Published on 23 September 2015 in Impact

This week the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is at the UN General Assembly to ensure that African perspectives on countering violent extremism are included in the global policy agenda.

The ISS will also argue for counter-terrorism approaches rooted in development and criminal justice responses rather than just security.

‘The adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda at this year’s UN General Assembly provides an unprecedented opportunity to position counter-terrorism as part of a broader development agenda and not just a security measure’, says Anton du Plessis, Managing Director of the ISS.

‘ISS has made a significant contribution to understanding the nature and complexity of violent extremism in Africa. We will share these perspectives with key international policymakers at high-level events on countering violent extremism’.

ISS has made a significant contribution to understanding violent extremism in Africa

The ISS is attending this year’s General Assembly as one of four implementing partners of the European Union’s Counter-terrorism Monitoring, Reporting and Support Mechanism (CT MORSE) project. Other partners are the Global Center on Cooperative Security, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime.

CT MORSE aims to help the EU respond to terrorism and violent extremism. On 30 September, the project will host a discussion of senior officials, experts and civil society practitioners in New York that will contribute to international and multilateral responses to violent extremism and its impact on women.

Du Plessis is also part of a panel on leadership, peace, security and risk at the African Leadership Forum on 24 September in New York. The ISS will engage with African leaders to help ensure that the right challenges facing the continent are identified and appropriate strategies developed.

For more information contact:

Anton du Plessis, ISS: +27 78 781 3619, [email protected]