The International Center of Excellence
for
Countering Violent Extremism
1
Evolution of approaches
Old Approach
New Approach
Counterterrorism (hard)
Countering Violent Extremism (soft)
•
•
•
•
• Counters all forms of violent
extremism and terrorism
• Multilateral, cooperative
• Rehabilitation
• Non-violent
• Non-ideological
Uses deadly force
Ideological
Unilateral
Creates more terrorists
than it eliminates
2
What is Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)?
CVE is about reducing the number of terrorist supporters through
non-coercive means.
Traditional Counterterrorism
Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)
Action
Reactive: Find and capture
terrorists
Proactive: Intervene before someone
uses terrorism or violence
Actors
Intelligence, law enforcement,
military
Multidisciplinary, civilian participation
Perception
3
Aim and purpose
Aim: To serve as the premier international center of choice for experts, expertise
and experience in training, dialogue, collaboration and research to counter violent
extremism in all its forms and manifestations
Purpose: Every activity of the Center will be geared to reducing the number of terroris
group supporters through non-coercive means
Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF)
What is the GCTF?
• A venue for national counterterrorism (CT) officials and
practitioners to meet with their counterparts from
different regions to share:
• Experience and expertise
• Strategies
• Needs and capacity building programs
Who is involved?
• The United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Australia, Canada,
China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, the European Union,
France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Morocco,
the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland,
Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
How is structured?
• Five working groups, two co-chairs for each
1. Sahel
2. Horn of Africa
3. Southeast Asia
4. Rule of Law
5. Countering Violent Extremism
September 2011
5
Approach
We want to get a running start
…[and show]…this is a group
that can do exactly what it
claims, that it can mobilize
resources and identify problems.
1
1
Source: US State Department Press release dated September 9th 2011
The GCTF … is meant to be a
nimble, action-orientated
organization.1
GCTF Context
Strategic Coordinating Committee
Regional Working Group –
Capacity building in the Sahel
Regional Working Group –
Capacity building in the Horn of
Africa
Regional Working Group –
Capacity building in Southeast
Asia
1
4
Working Group: Criminal
Justice, Rule of Law
5
Working Group: Countering
Violent Extremism
2
3
Answering a Need
The Center was created as an independent organization working in tandem with the
GCTF and its Working Groups.
• The GCTF was launched in New York
City in September 2011
Countering Violent Extremism Working
Group
(Co-Chaired by UAE and UK)
The International Center of Excellence for
Countering Violent Extremism
• One of the GCTF’s five working
groups, on Countering Violent
Extremism, is co-chaired by the UAE
and UK
• The UAE offered to host the first-ever
International Center for Countering
Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi, UAE
8
The Center for Countering Violent Extremism
“The International Center for CVE will not
merely be another brick and mortar
bureaucracy … but rather a lean and
adaptive state-of-the-art institution that
leverages media and cyber to link and
train experts around the world to tackle
real problems and produce real results in
tackling violent extremism…”
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan,
Foreign Minister of the United Arab
Emirates
22
22 September 2011 – UAE offers
Abu Dhabi as the host city for the
establishment of the Center
9
Why the UAE
The core values of the United
Arab Emirates:
Tolerance
Pluralism
Innovation
Excellence
10
Mission Statement
To serve as the premier international center for experts and expertise in
dialogue, training, and research to
counter violent extremism in all its forms.
11
Driver: Partners
The Center will establish a formal and informal network of relationships with governments, the
private sector and civil society.
NON GCTF
GOVERNMENTS
CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANISATIONS
GCTF
GOVERNMENTS
THINK
TANKS
ACADEMIA
EXISTING CVE
PROGRAMs
EXISTING CT
PROGRAMs
INDIVIDUALS
PRIVATE
SECTOR
CVE MEDIA
PRODUCTION
CAPABILITIES
The Center may form strategic partnerships with particular organizations, institutions or individuals.
Benefits of the Center
For GCTF members
• Provides a genuine contribution to global peace and security
• Strengthens working relationships between GCTF member nations in
countering violent extremism
For the UAE
• Enhances the prestige and international standing
• Provides the UAE with the opportunity to be the model for integrated
CVE programming
April 2012: CVE Working Group
meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Above: International GCTF delegates attend the Center’s 3 April 2012 open house
13
The International Center of Excellence for
Countering Violent Extremism
coecve@mofa.gov.ae
14