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Mr. President, We thank the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for organizing this timely debate on the role of youth in countering violent extremism. Radicalisation and violent extremism pose an increasingly pressing threat to the international peace and security. Today, foreign terrorist fighters originate from some 100 states as recruitment networks expand their global reach. Young people fall into the hands of these networks for multiple reasons, as diverse as individuals themselves. Identity issues, peer pressure, online and personal connections, losing distinction between the violent world of video gaming and reality, alienation, social exclusion and marginalization, misguided search for the meaning of life and faith, perceived injustices of the world - anything can serve as a trigger for radicalization in the context of  growing sophistication of recruitment mediums and techniques. Many have little if any idea about the faith they claim to defend.

Some are abducted, forcefully converted and forced to fight, as Yezidi victims of Da’esh, or the girls, some as little as eight years old, turned by Boko Haram into suicide attackers in Nigeria. Some are pushed into the deadly path by circumstances of extreme desperation and hopelessness. Some get radicalized in prisons. Many come from regular families and safe environments where they enjoyed all the comforts of life and opportunities for the future.

It is particularly troubling that such young people should reject all that society has to offer and choose the obscurantist, murderous ideologies that radical extremists and terrorists profess. It is even more mind-boggling to think that while many girls and women across the globe are fighting against abuse, for human dignity and equal rights, young girls from normal families would willingly discard what other women and girls fight so hard to achieve to become “jihadi brides”, serving those who abuse and rape and sell women  into slavery.

While it is obvious that causes are as diverse as the individuals themselves, it remains important to establish at least some patterns in order to counteract violent radicalisation. There is no one-fits-all model of how and why a young person is radicalized. There is also no one-fits-all way of addressing the issue. As we seek to develop effective counter measures for this highly dangerous phenomenon, however, it is important to make sure we avoid profiling on religious, ethnic, or any other grounds.

As the phenomenon of violent extremism is complex, multifaceted and multidimensional, our responses too must be multidimensional and multifaceted, and taken at all levels, from local to national, regional, and international, involving role models, moral authorities, religious and community leaders, former recruits who have managed to escape and reintegrate, civil society groups, private sector, academia and governments.

We don’t need to start from scratch as violent extremism is not a new phenomenon, and it has been high on the UN agenda for some time already. Last year, for instance, the concern at the spread of violent extremism ideologies that underpin the terrorist narrative was reiterated both during UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy review and in Security Council resolution 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters.

Inter alia, we need to capitalize on the work already done by the Council’s own subsidiary body, the Counter Terrorism Committee, with the support of its Executive Directorate. A body tasked to support implementation of resolution 1624 (2005), it has developed a wealth of expertise over the last decade with regard to associated risks, gaps, and recommendations on future actions. The recent creation by CTED of an academic partners network can play an important role, in support of the work already carried out.

Furthermore, joint efforts of the UN machinery, regional, national and local actors are needed, based on the comparative strengths and expertise of each partner involved, to develop effective, target-specific antidotes to violent extremist propaganda.

Rule of law institutions have a critical role to play. Border and security cooperation, information and intelligence sharing to facilitate tracking cross-border movements of young people need to be strengthened, as stopping potential recruits at the border can often the last line of preventing them from falling into terrorist hands.

As recruitment flourishes on the internet, it is essential to engage with the professionals of the web and the wider community of internet users in order to develop adequate security measures without impinging on the freedom of expression and opinion.

Education is highly important, and girls education in particular. No wonder terrorists are attacking girls schools with such fury. They know that an educated girl, conscious of her choices and rights in life is an excellent antidote against the blind subservient ignorance they are seeking to impose.

Fostering critical thinking is key to cutting through the gloss of terrorist propaganda. Human rights and tolerance education should be part and parcel of the broader education efforts. Clear perspectives for the future, through education, skills development, job and entrepreneurship opportunities, matter everywhere but especially in conflict affected areas, among IDPs and refugees so that they in their desperation don’t fall easy prey to radicalization and violent extremism is especially important. One should pay particular attention to juvenile and young prison inmates as prisons, detention centres are one of the prime locations for recruitment.

Mr. President, it is imperative that we improve strategic communications at all levels, to develop effective targeted messages that demolish the gloss and false righteousness of the narrative that the likes of Da’esh and Boko Haram promote, to expose their hypocrisy, and the monstrosity of the crimes they commit under false pretexts.

Given that faith is often used as a pretext or excuse for violent extremism, promoting a non-radical, moderate interpretation of religions and increasing interreligious dialogue and co-operation are also important parts of deradicalization and counter-radicalization. A number of countries have valuable experience in this respect that can and should be shared.

As terrorists like to hide behind a veneer of faith, it is also key to cut through that veneer and expose the abysmal gap between what faith is and what is being done in its name by the violent extremists. We have make sure the would-be recruits understand very clearly that whatever the world’s ills they claim to rectify, or injustices address by their deadly choices- beheadings, maiming, throwing people from high towers, burning them alive, or stoning to death does not address any injustice or ill; but on the contrary, adds in a most brutal and sick way to the ills of this world, deepening injustices, perpetrating impunity, and perpetuating conflict.

Mr. President,

While all levels should be involved in tackling the issue of youth radicalization, grassroots level is particularly important. It is at the grassroots, in local communities that vulnerabilities are felt and exposed, disaffections and marginalization take place, providing fertile ground for the recruiters. NGOs, volunteer groups, civil society activism offer important ways to strengthen the connection between young people and the communities they live in. Fostering a sense of belonging, community and civic spirit building efforts help overcome a sense of alienation and provides positive life models for young people to follow.