The High-level event was organized by the Permanent Missions of Belgium and the State of Qatar to the United Nations, the Education Above All Foundation (EEA), and the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. The discussion brought together distinguished ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic community, UN system, civil society and education experts, to highlight the crucial role of education in the prevention of violent extremism and countering radicalization and violent propaganda.

Addressing the participants, Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, outlined the crucial role of education in the prevention of violent extremism by strengthening learners’ resistance to violent extremist messages. Education creates the conditions countering spread of violent extremist ideas. To this end, she highlighted UNESCO’s Global Citizenship Education (GCED) programme that focuses on teaching values and installing behaviors for living in a world of diversity and change. Finally, Ms Giannini underscored the importance of cooperation with international partners, especially during conflict, as “tackling violent extremism requires coordinated action and joint efforts”.

In the following Expert Round-table on Harnessing the Power of Quality Education to Prevent Violent Extremism participants shared information best practices, research and activities on strengthening global action to prevent violent extremism, including by youth engagement. Professor Lynn Davis (Emeritus Professor of International Education at the University of Birmingham) emphasized that education is particularly important in teaching critical thinking and ensuring a transition of universal values. Dr Reem Al Ansari (Professor of Law, Qatar University) linked the topic of the discussion with the rule of law and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16, stressed that education is part of remedy in dealing with violent extremism but should be linked to other interventions in the context of legal instruments. Mubarak Al Thani (Head of Advocacy, Education Above All Foundation) outlined that education is a powerful weapon against poverty, radicalization and conflict, emphasizing that provision of quality education should be an integral part of assistance in conflict and post-conflict processes. 

The event featured interventions by Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve (Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations), Abdulrahman Yaaqob Y. A. Al-Hamadi (Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations), Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah (President and Ex-officio Member, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, State of Qatar), Virginia Gamba, (UN Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict),  Michèle Coninsx (Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)).