Section outline
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Preventing and countering violent extremism is more effective, sustainable and meaningful if it includes the perspectives, participation, and leadership of women. Women’s roles in violent extremism are many and varied, including those of survivors, supporters, perpetrators, family members of perpetrators, preventers, peacebuilders, civil society actors, policymakers, faith actors, and security actors. It is vital to engage women in all of their diversity within P/CVE efforts to analyze their distinct barriers and needs.
Watch this video to hear testimonies from women working in P/CVE.
Source: UN Women Asia Pacific. “Preventing Violent Extremism / Empowered Women, Peaceful Communities.” December 7, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w-pDAxbASw.
While women are often seen as victims or survivors of violent extremism, due to the use of high-rates of sexual and gender-based violence to terrorize communities with the aim to destroy the social fabric, women can also be perpetrators of violent extremism themselves. Too often, female perpetrators of violent extremism are perceived as “followers” of their husbands into violent extremism, but women are also their own agents of change and can be radicalized based on their own motivations. For example, women who had been exposed to or experienced gender-based violence are also more likely to have been exposed to radicalization. Whether a woman has experienced sexual or gender-based violence or fears she might experience it, this may drive her to join extremist efforts for protection. Joining extremist efforts can also offer economic independence or decision-making opportunities that the woman might also not have access to.
Women in their familial role also have a critical role to play in P/CVE, particularly mothers. Often mothers have a keen understanding of their children’s motives, and their opinion often carries substantial weight for their children. There is widespread evidence that shows that mothers have reduced violence in the context of gang involvement, a form of organized violence that shares similarities with violent extremism and there are case studies in Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan which suggest that involving female family members in P/CVE initiatives increases their efficacy.
Photo Source: Pictured above is a UNDP Iraq program focused on gender responsive approaches to PVE. UNDP. “A Mother is a School: The Influence of Women in Preventing Violent Extremism.” October 19, 2022. https://www.undp.org/iraq/stories/mother-school-influence-women-preventing-violent-extremism.
Women as peacebuilders, whether they work in areas of prevention, protection, or response, offer unique expertise and perspectives in the field of P/CVE. This is especially true of local women peacebuilders who have direct ties to their communities and understand the context and culture. Women can be powerful agents of change and play a crucial role in detecting early signs of radicalization of individuals in their community, intervening before individuals become violent, and delegitimizing violent extremist narratives. This includes peacebuilding work within online spaces where more women and young women are targeted and radicalized. It is important to stress that as peacebuilders, women often face distinct burdens, due to both the gendered stereotypes it holds and the responsibility and danger that is put on them because of this expectation of them. Supporting women peacebuilders within P/CVE through partnerships, funding, and uplifting their voices and leadership is critical in advancing an inclusive P/CVE approach.
Studies have shown that integrating women into community efforts to deal with social issues has been proven to be more effective than similar efforts without women involved. For example, the UN states that data from 40 countries shows a positive correlation between the proportion of female police officers and reporting rates of sexual assault. Incorporating women into community responses to social issues is critical to combat those issues. The same could apply for P/CVE. For example, if more women served in local police forces or other security sector entities, it might be easier for women from the community to report their concerns about radicalization to violent extremism happening in their families or communities. As with sexual assault, if women know they can report to another woman, they may be less deterred by fear, shame or stigma.
Photo Source: Captain Tahire Haxholli, Colonel Taibe Canolli, AWKP advisor Teuta Bajgora Jasiqi and Colonel Aferdita Mikullovci at the Kosovo Police Headquarters in Prishtina. UN Women. “Bringing women on equal footing with men in Kosovo Police.” February 24, 2017. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/2/feature-bringing-women-on-equal-footing-with-men-in-kosovo-police.
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