By focusing on reducing the root causes of conflict and strengthening governmental and societal resistance to crises as well as human rights, the SDC enables societies to build peaceful and non-violent conflict-resolving mechanisms. Its programs are thus per se playing a part in tackling the underlying causes of social and political conflicts and removing the breeding ground for violent extremism.

Violent extremism involves crimes of violence, and combating it is predominantly a task for the police, military and intelligence agencies. The SDC is not involved in the fight against terrorism. As regards international cooperation, this is about preventing violent extremism (PVE). Its work includes conflict transformation and the long-term prevention of violence and radicalization. In operational work, it is important to distinguish between PVE and anti-terrorism for conflict sensitivity and security reasons. This also applies to communication.

With its current and future Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020, Switzerland has an important tool on hand to face up to the root causes of radicalization and extremist violence by means of the long-term development programs in governance, creating prospects for basic and professional education, generating income, achieving gender equality and strengthening human rights. The respective guidelines can be found in the Peace & Statebuilding Strategy and the SDC’s Human Rights Policy as well as the Swiss Foreign Policy Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism.

Violent extremism is a symptom of poor governance, corruption, the perception of personally experienced injustice, ostracism and lack of trust in the state. The SDC promotes genuine, improved participation in political, economic and social processes and its programs aim to address individuals more effectively also through psychosocial support.