During the last twenty years, the international community has worked to combat violent extremism primarily using anti-terrorism measures focusing on security. However, it is increasingly agreed that these measures have not been sufficient to prevent the spread of violent extremism. Consequently, in December 2015 the United Nations Secretary-General published a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, as part of the UN’s more general prevention activities.
The Member States were also invited to develop national action plans to prevent violent extremism with a special focus on political dialog and conflict prevention, resolution and transformation; strengthening good governance, human rights and the rule of law; engaging communities; empowering youth; gender equality and empowering women; education, skills development and employment facilitation; and strategic communications, the Internet and social media.
To emphasize the priority it gives to this topic, Switzerland has developed a Foreign Policy Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism, enabling it to support its partners with their efforts in this area. Switzerland’s approach aims to address the direct and structural causes of violent extremism, whether political, social or economic, through a long-term commitment in conflict-affected, fragile and transitional contexts.
Switzerland is committed to fostering the development of inclusive societies by cultivating the fundamental values of human rights, peace, tolerance, and respect for diversity and the principles of the rule of law. Through its efforts in conflict resolution and transformation, inclusive dialog, political involvement in pluralistic democratic environments, the fight against impunity, the protection of human rights and the rule of law, but also the improvement of training and employment and the reduction of socio-economic inequality, particularly for young people and women, Switzerland is building citizens’ trust in their institutions, creating prospects and thus helping to eliminate the socio-political factors that can result in violent extremism.
A sense of political, social or economic exclusion is often a factor that drives certain individuals or groups towards violence and violent extremism. Switzerland is therefore committed to facilitating spaces for political dialog that include all stakeholders – governments, civil society and armed groups – so that legitimate grievances can be aired peacefully.
