ABU DHABI // Women have a key role to play in combating violent extremism by militant groups such as ISIL, a top Emirati diplomat told counter-terrorism experts on Tuesday.
Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said women could be “bulwarks against intolerance and extremism and agents of positive change in their families, communities, and public spaces to prevent radicalisation from leading to violent extremism and acts of terrorism”.
“Radical doctrines such as those propagated by Daesh are an insult to Islam and in opposition to the universal tenets of Islam and of UAE society, such as religious tolerance and the active participation of women in society,” she said.
Ms Nusseibeh said the international community had to rethink strategies on countering violent extremism “to integrate a gender perspective, and to increase the participation of women in the development and implementation of these strategies”.
The ambassador was chairing a discussion on women, peace and security hosted by the UAE at the UN in New York. The panel discussed strategies to engage women as leaders in efforts to counter violent extremism, and concluded that women must be viewed as equal partners and a resource in such efforts.
Among those taking part were internationally recognised experts on the topic, including Melanne Verveer, head of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
Ms Verveer praised the UAE’s leadership on the issue. She said the Hedayah centre for countering violent extremism set up in Abu Dhabi in 2012 was “such a resource – a vibrant centre doing cutting-edge research that includes women’s perspectives”.
Future events will discuss the role of women in security sector reform, and the importance of economic empowerment in post-conflict situations.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
* Reporting by Wam
