Advancing Civil Society Programming on Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia

Jakarta, 27-29 May 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in a Community of Practice event in Indonesia, organised by the Global Center on Cooperative Security and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Indonesia. This workshop, titled “Advancing Civil Society Programming on Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia,” brought together civil society organisations and researchers dedicated to preventing and countering violent extremism.

The event gathered representatives from across Southeast Asia, all of whom have partnered with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Global Center on Cooperative Security over the past five years. This collaborative effort aims to share key insights, practices, and experiences to enhance civil society programming in the region. Our project coordinator, Hisham Muhaimi was particularly involved in the session on Community Resilience and Early Warning System (EWERS).

Based on a policy brief published by INITIATE.MY, Hisham suggested that universities should build their capacity to implement EWERS effectively by training staff and students to recognise early signs of radicalisation and respond promptly. He emphasised the need for conducting due diligence on university staff and students to ensure a safe campus community environment. He also recommended the monitoring of usrah (religious study group) activities to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies. Additionally, he proposed enhancing community social media surveillance to identify and counteract potential threats from early on. These strategies, Hisham argued, are crucial for creating resilient and vigilant campus communities that can effectively prevent the risks of violent extremism.