Workshop on Youth, Gender, and Preventing Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia

Bali, Indonesia, 29-30 November 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in the workshop on Youth, Gender, and Preventing Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia organised by the Pacific Forum in collaboration with the US Indo-Pacific Command Office of Women, Peace, and Security (USINDOPACOM). The focus was on exploring the intersection of youth, gender, and preventing violent extremism (PCVE) in Southeast Asia.

The workshop brought together participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, representing security agencies, youth and women’s civil society actors. The objective was to build relationships between security personnel and grassroots organisations that are focused on addressing extremism through women, peace, and security (WPS) and youth, peace, and security (YPS) by connecting civil society and security institutions. Bringing together actors working in PCVE sectorat the local, national, and regional levels, and enabling a better understanding of incorporating gender and youth perspectives into PCVE efforts at the institutional level.

INITIATE.MY’s Board of Experts, Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus led a session discussing his work on PCVE from gender and youth perspectives. He emphasised the vital role of women as the first responders in a domestic household and the urgent need to link Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SBGV) to extremism. He also highlighted INITIATE.MY’s work such as Peace Lab Youth (PLY), Train-the-Trainers for Community Engagement and Strategic Communications training series that serve as testaments to the multi-stakeholders approach being practised in Malaysia. At the end of the session, Dr. Mukhriz explained the limitations faced by the civil society and the need for support from government security agencies such as funding constraints and limited expertise.

The workshop managed to enlighten government security agencies about the importance of including gender and youth perspectives in PCVE efforts. This heightened awareness lays the foundation for crafting more inclusive and effective strategies that resonate with diverse walks of communities. The workshop also successfully facilitated closer ties between security stakeholders and grassroots organisations to ensure a comprehensive and community-driven approach to preventing violent extremism. 

INITIATE.MY strongly supports this effort of continuous knowledge-sharing across maritime Southeast Asia to foster  a stronger multi-sectoral collaboration between government security agencies and civil society organisations.