UNODC Workshop on “Preventing Violent Extremism: Radicalisation, Rehabilitation & Reintegration, A Journey Back to Society”

Langkawi, 3-6 September 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in the “Preventing Violent Extremism: Radicalisation, Rehabilitation & Reintegration – A Journey Back to Society” workshop, co-organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Correctional Academy of Malaysia (AKM). Over the course of three days, the workshop gathered more than 40 key government officers actively engaged in the rehabilitation programme for VEPs.

This workshop was aimed at  strengthening Malaysia’s capacity for rehabilitating and reintegrating violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and high-risk prisoners and emphasising holistic approaches to reintegration through collaboration between governmental bodies and community-based organisations both pre- and post-release.

The workshop highlighted expert perspectives and interactive sessions on various aspects of violent extremism. Dr. Haezreena Begum, a Board of Experts member at INITIATE.MY and a senior lecturer from the University of Malaya, delivered an insightful presentation on ideological and non-ideological drivers of violent extremism. She emphasised the importance of understanding root causes for creating an effective rehabilitation framework. 

In another session, Hisham Muhaimi, Project Coordinator at INITIATE.MY, highlighted the critical role of family and civil society in supporting the reintegration of VEPs. He emphasised the importance of building resilient community networks through a multi-stakeholder approach that fosters collaboration among government agencies, enforcement authorities, civil society organisations, community leaders, and families. Such engagement, he noted, is vital for facilitating reintegration and reducing the risk of recidivism.

The event also included perspectives from representatives of the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) and the Royal Police of Malaysia (RMP), and other government agencies such as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department (BHEUU), and the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (JKM).

The workshop concluded with a collaborative session where attendees developed a roadmap to guide interagency efforts in preventing violent extremism in Malaysia’s national security agenda – aligned with the Malaysia National Plan of Action for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (MyPCVE).

INITIATE.MY remains committed to supporting comprehensive and inclusive strategies in the rehabilitation and reintegration of VEPs and working closely with AKM, UNODC, and other key security  stakeholders.