Country : Republic of Ukraine

Commite : The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Topic Area : COMBATING EXTREMISM THROUGH
EDUCATION : Preventing and Countering Violent
Extremism and Radicalism Globally
Delegates : Helen Graciela

Latest decades were marked by the spread of violent extremist ideologies and the
emergence of terrorist groups fueled by them. ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Boko Haram, Al-
Shabaab and others rose from a regional menace to a global threat to international peace and
security. Over the past years, Ukraine has also acquired bitter experience of countering terrorist
threat that has been fueled by external support for terrorist groups and organizations in the east
of the country.
Violent extremist groups have sought to remove access to education through attacks on
schools and universities, with women and girls often deliberately targeted and
disproportionately affected.
Ukraine have taken significant strides in strengthening cooperation and coordination
for preventing violent extremism through education. We believes that education is and has
always been a contested space for radical movements seeking to instil their ideologies, views
and values on society. Education is the way to eliminate terrorism. It is one of the highest return
investment in prevention, to counter violent extremism. Education can contribute to building
resilience among communities, individuals and the state by cultivating citizenship, democratic
values, and alternative nonviolent opportunities.
Education, whether religious or secular, should promote critical thinking , human rights,
tolerance and respect for diversity of different cultures, genders, religions and lifestyles also
connect people to opportunities for socio-economic growth. It should take into account various
country and culture specifics and nuances. Education should be effectively leveraged to reduce
the risk of radicalization leading to violent extremism and terrorism.
In our work on education, as in every other area of our work on preventing violent
extremism, multi-lateral partnerships are pivotal. We have benefited immensely from the tools,
knowledge and expertise of UNESCO on Preventing Violent Extremism. As a start, we look
forward to learning from the vast repository of knowledge, practices and experience present
here.