BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//INITIATE.MY - ECPv6.15.11//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://initiate.my X-WR-CALDESC:Events for INITIATE.MY REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Asia/Shanghai BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0800 TZOFFSETTO:+0800 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20200101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240305T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240307T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240715T040331Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240715T040331Z UID:17719-1709625600-1709830800@initiate.my SUMMARY:Regional Summit: Analysing Women’s Role in Terrorism in Southeast Asia DESCRIPTION:Semarang\, 5-7 March 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in the Regional Summit: Analysing Women’s Role in Terrorism in Southeast Asia co-organised by the The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) and the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC). The summit brought together 54 criminal justice practitioners\, academics\, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and beyond from Indonesia\, Malaysia and the Philippines. INITIATE.MY’s Board of Experts Member\, Dr. Haezreena Begum and Project Coordinator\, Hisham Muhaimi took part in the three-day summit held in Semarang\, Indonesia. \n\n\n\nThe convening delved into the entire trajectory of women’s engagement in terrorism\, commencing with the processes of radicalisation and recruitment into extremist organisations\, both online and offline. Participants explored the varied motivations behind women’s involvement – whether it be support or direct participation in violent activities. \n\n\n\nAdditionally\, the convening centred on strategies for collecting evidence to substantiate charges against radicalised women\, the challenges and methods of repatriating women from conflict zones\, and effective deradicalisation and reintegration programmes. \n\n\n\nDr. Haezreena Begum\, spoke at a session on Criminal Justice Responses: Challenges and Innovations in Evidence-Based Investigations and Prosecutions of Women within Terrorist Groups. In her presentation\, she explored the nexus between terrorism and human trafficking. Human trafficking within terrorism encompasses activities such as combat\, suicide bombing\, espionage\, sexual servitude\, childbirth\, forced labour\, and various other forms. These practices are facilitated through methods such as threats\, coercion\, abduction\, and deception. Additionally\, in certain cases\, the allure of attractive benefits or financial compensation may also influence individuals to join terrorist groups. \n\n\n\nShe also spoke about the male saviour syndrome in managing women Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and the need to have a proper victim protection framework in the context of Malaysia. Looking forward\, she stressed that the law enforcement authorities and first responders have the ultimate responsibility to protect\, respect\, and fulfil women and children’s rights in the process of repatriation of women FTFs to Malaysia. Deradicalisation programmes for returnees and detainees should be implemented sensitively to avoid re-traumatisation. \n\n\n\nThe summit convened 54 professionals spanning criminal justice practitioners\, academics\, non-governmental organisations\, and others from Indonesia\, Malaysia\, and the Philippines. Delegates gathered to share recent research findings\, discuss effective strategies\, and address ongoing challenges encountered in managing terrorism cases involving women. URL:https://initiate.my/event/regional-summit-analysing-womens-role-in-terrorism-in-southeast-asia/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240304T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240304T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240715T035531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240715T040119Z UID:17713-1709539200-1709571600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Luminate Discussion on Inclusivity DESCRIPTION:Petaling Jaya\, 4 March 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in a discussion organised by Luminate Foundation\, dedicated to fostering inclusivity in Malaysia. The event brought together a diverse ensemble of civil society organisers\, independent consultants and researchers in Klang Valley. \n\n\n\nThe discussion revolved around participants’ visions of an inclusive Malaysia and collaborative strategies to realise these visions. INITIATE.MY actively contributed to the discussion by highlighting the organisation’s strengths in working with government agencies and data development to counter extremism and promote social cohesion. There is also a shared recommendation for improved funding mechanisms for CSOs to increase their work impact. \n\n\n\nThe discussion provided feedback also for future endeavours on improving inclusivity in Malaysia\, identifying future needs for foundations that would want to work on this in Malaysia as well as partner organisations. \n\n\n\nFor INITIATE.MY\, this was a great platform for knowledge enhancement and renewed commitment to drive positive change in Malaysia with like-minded organisations and practitioners. \n\n\n\nThe discussion brought together Civil Society Organisations\, consultants\, researchers\, and funders highlighting the importance of inclusivity in society. URL:https://initiate.my/event/luminate-discussion-on-inclusivity/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240130T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240131T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T062522Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240311T031227Z UID:17315-1706601600-1706720400@initiate.my SUMMARY:ASEAN-Australia Counter-Terrorism Workshop DESCRIPTION:Bali\, Indonesia\, 30-31 January 2024 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Terrorism Workshop. This event focused on Good Practice Approaches to Countering Violent Extremism\, Hate Speech\, and Disinformation Online. It was co-hosted by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)-Indonesia and Australia and facilitated by the Asia Foundation. \n\n\n\nThe workshop addressed the growing concern of online hate speech\, disinformation\, and violent extremist content in Southeast Asia\, which have seen a significant rise over recent years. These dangerous narratives\, easily disseminated through accessible social media and technology platforms have posed a risk of radicalisation\, particularly to vulnerable communities and groups. \n\n\n\nThe workshop brought together representatives from diverse sectors\, including technology and social media companies\, and relevant civil society organisations from ASEAN member states and beyond. Discussions centred on sharing experiences and recommendations to tackle the misuse of the internet for radicalisation and violent extremism\, balancing security needs with human rights considerations. \n\n\n\nAizat Shamsuddin\, Founder of INITIATE.MY\, contributed to the panel on ‘The Role of Social Media Companies\, Civil Society\, and Public-Private-People Partnerships’. He highlighted trends in Malaysia where online dissemination of hate and extreme narratives often escalates during political events and controversies related to race and religion. These narratives risk transitioning from online spaces to real-world actions\, including boycotts\, rallies\, and violent attacks. \n\n\n\nAizat emphasised INITIATE.MY’s commitment to multi-sectoral partnerships in preventing violent extremism\, including research and sharing findings with law enforcement and social media companies. He stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration\, urging for dynamic engagement under the National Plan of Action on Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE)\, led by the Home Affairs Ministry\, to effectively preserve social harmony and prevent radicalisation. \n\n\n\nThe ASEAN-Australia Counter-Terrorism Workshop organised by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC)-Indonesia and Australia and facilitated by the Asia Foundation. URL:https://initiate.my/event/asean-australia-counter-terrorism-workshop/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240124T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20240130T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T063311Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T063312Z UID:17318-1706083200-1706634000@initiate.my SUMMARY:Expert Consultation Series on Online Hate and Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 24-30 January 2024– The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) has successfully organised Expert Consultation Series on Online Hate and Violent Extremism\, which brought together more than 50 participants\, representing civil society organisations\, academia\, tech and media companies\, and government agencies. This project is supported by the British High Commission in Malaysia. \n\n\n\nThese consultation series provided insightful feedback and suggestions on the dangerous trends of online hate and violent extremism in Malaysia following the 2022 General Election in Malaysia. Participants also identified existing efforts and ways to improve these efforts to combat the dangerous trends. \n\n\n\nThe consultation featured guest speakers such as Dr. Nawab Osman\, Global Head of the Dangerous Organisations and Individuals Programme at Meta\, Dr. Sabariah Mohamed Salleh\, Coordinator at JomCheck Malaysia\, and Kennimrod Sariburaja\, Director of Research and Publication at Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT). \n\n\n\nINITIATE.MY aims to harness the insights gathered from the consultation series to develop and enhance multi-sectoral policy recommendations. These recommendations will be instrumental in addressing the concerning rise of hate and violent extremism in the digital realm\, ultimately fostering safer environments\, both online and offline\, for Malaysia’s diverse multi-racial and religious society. \n\n\n\nSuyin Chia and Daniel Teoh\, researchers at INITIATE.MY presenting the dangerous trends  of online hate and violent extremism within Malaysia’s digital landscape.\n\n\n\nINITIATE.MY with the consultation participants from the Malaysian government agencies. URL:https://initiate.my/event/expert-consultation-series-on-online-hate-and-violent-extremism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231219T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231219T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T063415Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240715T035440Z UID:17326-1702972800-1703005200@initiate.my SUMMARY:Study Visit to Kajang Women’s Prison DESCRIPTION:Kajang\, Selangor\, 19 December 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in a study visit to Kajang Women’s Prison\, organised by Dr. Haezreena Begum\, a Board of Expert Member at INITIATE.MY and Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Law\, University of Malaya. The visit provided insights into the vocational programmes offered to women inmates\, including baking\, sewing\, handcrafting\, and spa services. These initiatives aim to facilitate the inmates’ rehabilitation by developing their skills and enabling their reintegration into society. Products such as cookies and batik items\, produced by the inmates\, are sold to the public under the My Pride brand. While the immediate financial impact may be modest\, these programmes offer inmates the opportunity to earn income and gain valuable skills during their time in prison. \n\n\n\nINITIATE.MY views the study visit as a valuable opportunity for meaningful exchanges between academia\, civil society practitioners\, prison officials\, and inmates. It fosters understanding of Malaysia’s prison system\, sheds light on the challenges faced by both the prison department and inmates\, and explores avenues for improvement\, particularly in terms of facility upgrades and effective reintegration programmes upon inmates’ release. \n\n\n\nAizat Shamsuddin and Hisham Muhaimi (third row on the left) from INITIATE.MY participated in the study visit to Kajang Women’s Prison. URL:https://initiate.my/event/study-visit-to-kajang-womens-prison/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231212T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231214T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T063613Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T063613Z UID:17330-1702368000-1702573200@initiate.my SUMMARY:Regional Workshop on Strategic Communication for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia DESCRIPTION:Bali\, Indonesia\, 12-14 December 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in the Regional Workshop on Strategic Communication for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia\, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the support from European Union (EU). Participants from the regional governments\, law enforcement agencies\, civil societies\, and survivors of terrorism across Southeast Asia engaged in a dynamic exchange of ideas\, sharing their experiences and best practices and discussing innovative strategies for impactful communication campaigns and regional cooperation to prevent violent extremism. \n\n\n\nThe event was led by Dr. Noor Huda Ismail from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies\, Singapore\, and Dr. Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid from the University of Malaya\, Malaysia who is also INITIATE.MY’s Board of Experts Member. The first session lays the foundation of the workshop\, with participants presenting an analysis of the terrorism threat landscape and the challenges of preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) in their respective countries. The Malaysian delegation\, represented by Afiq Ismaizam from the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT)\,  Shaik Irfan from INITIATE.MY and Elisa Shafiqah from Malaysian Youth Diplomacy (MYDiplomacy) took the opportunity to share the Malaysian context regarding the online trends of extremism and hate speech\, on-campus radicalisation\, and the role of local communities and civil society to address these issues. \n\n\n\nBesides that\, the  workshop served as a continuation of prior strategic communications workshops in Malaysia\, Indonesia\, and the Philippines in which the participants could showcase their own national projects. Group 4 from Malaysia presented their projects on ‘Instant Prejudice in Malaysian Online Reporting’\, an analysis of media reports on racial issues\, and the online campaign ‘Take Two’\, which aimed to promote awareness on ethical usage of social media. Participants had the chance to do a site visit to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF)\, where they immersed themselves in the local cultures and learned to utilise arts\, literature\, and multiculturalism to promote social cohesion\, interreligious harmony\, in their strategic communications projects. \n\n\n\nThe concluding day featured an in-depth discussion on the Role of Strategic Communication in Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) with Dr. Delsy Ronnie\, Head of Mission in the Philippines & Regional Representative for Asia: Myanmar\, Thailand & Indonesia\, Nonviolent Peaceforce\, Philippines. Participants were exposed to the EWER system to employ a whole-of-society approach for preventing extremism at the local level  through strategic communications such as community participation in the data collection\, information sharing  and timely interventions.  \n\n\n\nAs to measuring the outcomes and effectiveness of the workshop\, participants are required to present their group’s strategic communications projects\, by highlighting the cross-regional approach in PCVE. Shaik Irfan from INITIATE.MY collaborated with representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines national security bodies to develop a strategic communications project called “Vibin”. It is a social media campaign targeted at fostering digital resilience among Southeast Asian youths.  \n\n\n\nLooking forward\, INITIATE.MY hopes to forge a lasting impact and enhance security across Southeast Asia.By strengthening strategic ties between countries\, such as Indonesia\, Malaysia\, and the Philippines\, a more concerted effort can be made in addressing the challenges posed by extremism in the regional context of Southeast Asia. \n\n\n\n14 participants of the Advanced Course were selected to represent Malaysia in the Regional Workshop on Strategic Communications for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia.\n\n\n\nShaik Irfan\, a Programme Associate at INITIATE.MY presenting the terrorism threats and challenges in PCVE in Malaysia to fellow participants from Indonesia and the Philippines. URL:https://initiate.my/event/regional-workshop-on-strategic-communication-for-effective-prevention-of-violent-extremism-in-southeast-asia/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231129T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231130T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T063846Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T071557Z UID:17339-1701244800-1701363600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Regional Dialogue on Multi-Sectoral Partnership to Prevent Violent Extremism & EWERS Report at UNODC Training DESCRIPTION:Penang\, 29-30 November 2023 – The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (UNODC-ROSEAP) organised the Regional Dialogue on Multi-Sectoral Partnership aimed to to advance the collective regional response to violent extremism and promote the development of more resilient communities in Southeast Asia. The format of the conferences focused on opportunities and threats analyses\, best practices identification\, research findings sharing\, and partnership strategising. INITIATE.MY was invited to speak in several sessions of this dialogue in this workshop.  \n\n\n\nHisham Muhaimi\, Project Coordinator of INITIATE.MY joined other UNODC consultants from Indonesia and the Philippines in the session “Exploring Government and Civil Society Collaboration in PCVE”. Hisham’s presentation focused  on the Malaysian context based on the 7 series of national workshops in Malaysia held between May to September 2023. The workshop series focused on community engagement and strategic communications involving enforcement officials\, government agencies\, civil society\, academia\, media practitioners\, and students. Read more..  \n\n\n\nHisham highlighted the ongoing challenges that impede meaningful collaboration between government entities and civil society organisations (CSOs). He emphasised the government has a pivotal role in allocating more funding and resources specifically dedicated to PCVE initiatives. One approach to overcome this challenge is by prioritising PCVE in the national budget allocation. Then dedicated funding streams or grant applications can be ensured for both government agencies and CSOs to have access to financial support for joint initiatives. He also recommended that capacity building training should be a regular effort to empower both government agencies and CSOs with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively engage in PCVE initiatives. By investing in this effort\, Malaysia can move towards a collaborative approach in addressing the complex challenges posed by violent extremism. \n\n\n\nIn another session\, Aizat Shamsuddin\, Founder of INITIATE.MY\, participated in a panel discussion alongside distinguished speakers from Indonesia and the Philippines\, focusing on the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS). He emphasised EWERS as a crucial framework and tool for comprehensive assessment of violent extremism risks. This approach enables the early identification of risks\, facilitating timely and appropriate responses to prevent escalation. \n\n\n\nDrawing from INITIATE.MY’s extensive research and training initiatives with law enforcement\, Aizat posited that EWERS can be effectively adapted by various stakeholders according to their specific organisational mandates and requirements. This approach allows for the decentralisation of responsibilities in addressing violent extremism risks by reducing the burden traditionally placed on police alone. \n\n\n\nIn alignment with the Malaysian government’s development of the National Action Plan on Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE)\, Aizat proposed three key strategies: Firstly\, continued investment in the research and development of collaborative EWERS is vital to address any gaps. Secondly\, investing in training programmes to enhance the capabilities of EWERS implementers. Lastly\, fostering cross-sectoral trust to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these collaborative efforts in countering violent extremism. \n\n\n\nHisham Muhaimi (second from right)\, Project Coordinator at INITIATE.MY was sharing his insights on the space for collaboration between government and civil societies in the effort to prevent violent URL:https://initiate.my/event/regional-dialogue-on-multi-sectoral-partnership-to-prevent-violent-extremism-ewers-report-at-unodc-training/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231129T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231130T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20240307T063712Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T071056Z UID:17335-1701244800-1701363600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Workshop on Youth\, Gender\, and Preventing Violent Extremism in Southeast Asia DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nThe 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. \n\n\n\nINITIATE.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. \n\n\n\nThe 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.  \n\n\n\nINITIATE.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. \n\n\n\nThe event drew government security agencies\, youth and women’s civil society actors from Indonesia\, Malaysia\, and the Philippines. URL:https://initiate.my/event/workshop-on-youth-gender-and-preventing-violent-extremism-in-southeast-asia/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231103T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231103T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231103T044920Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231103T044921Z UID:17115-1698998400-1699030800@initiate.my SUMMARY:Selection Announcement: 2023 Strategic Communications Festival in Bali\, Indonesia DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 3 November 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) would like to congratulate participants from Group 4 and 2 for being selected to represent Malaysia in the upcoming regional Strategic Communications Festival that is set to take place in Bali\, Indonesia this December 2023.  \n\n\n\nGroup 4 members are Kennimrod Sariburaja from the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT)\, Yustina Ishak from the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)\, Perasath Servai a freelance videographer\, Irdina Azira from Universiti Malaya (UM)\, Jonathan Glenn Wong from Victoria University Student Council and Raja Nur Hidayah from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). \n\n\n\nGroup 2 members are Elisa Shafiqah from Malaysian Youth Diplomacy\, Afiq Ismaizam from the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT)\, Sharifah Nursyafiqah from The Rakyat Post\, Dr. Alfonso from the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and Peter Chew MingCong from the Victoria University Student Council. \n\n\n\nThe United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) will host the festival that  features selected participants from national-level trainings that were held in Indonesia\, Malaysia and the Philippines throughout the year of 2023. Participants will showcase their strategic communications projects on preventing violent extremism within their own respective contexts. The objective is to facilitate the regional exchange of best practices in the field of PCVE\, with an emphasis on the crucial role of strategic communications in averting the risks of radicalisation in the online and offline spaces. \n\n\n\nKennimrod\, Jonathan\, Yustina\, Pera (from left at the back) Irdina and Nurhidayah (from left at the front) from Group 4 are the first selected group to represent Malaysia in the upcoming Strategic Communications Festival hosted by UNODC this December 2023.\n\n\n\nAfiq\, Elisa\, Sharifah\, Dr. Alfonso and Peter (from left to right) from Group 2 are the second selected group to represent Malaysia. URL:https://initiate.my/event/selection-announcement-2023-strategic-communications-festival-in-bali-indonesia/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231014T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231016T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231101T071517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231102T024744Z UID:17069-1697270400-1697475600@initiate.my SUMMARY:2023 International Conference and AMAN Assembly DESCRIPTION:Banda Aceh\, 14-16 October 2023 – The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) along with Fakultas Syariah & Hukum of Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry co-organised an International Conference and AMAN Assembly 2023 with the theme ‘Religious Inclusion and Peacebuilding in the World: The Perspective of Muslims.  \n\n\n\nThe conference involved about 500 participants from Indonesia\, Malaysia\, Thailand\, The Philippines\, Myanmar\, Sri Lanka\, Bangladesh\, Pakistan and India. The AMAN Assembly provided a space amongst Muslims and other faith leaders and communities to share good practices on religious harmony\, interfaith dialogue\, women empowerment and democracy. The event comprised study visits to historical sites in Aceh\, a two-day international conference\, and an internal AMAN meeting. \n\n\n\nRepresenting the Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, Hisham Muhaimi participated as a panellist in a parallel workshop titled ‘Dialogue on Violent Extremism and the Involvement of Women and Youth\,’ alongside panellists from Indonesia and Bangladesh. \n\n\n\nHisham began by contextualising the situation concerning women\, youth\, and violent extremism in Malaysia. He then shared INITIATE.MY’s best practices in supporting the Youth\, Peace\, and Security (YPS) Agenda and the Women\, Peace\, and Security (WPS) Agenda. During his presentation\, he highlighted the limited engagement of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Malaysia and the government’s lack of meaningful involvement with CSOs\, which can hinder their ability to make an impact in the community. \n\n\n\nEmphasising the importance of training CSO actors in PCVE\, Hisham stressed that such exposure is necessary to encourage more CSOs to incorporate the PCVE framework into their programming initiatives. \n\n\n\nAdditionally\, at the conference\, Hisham moderated an open mic session featuring ten youth changemakers from Indonesia\, Thailand\, India\, Sri Lanka\, Nepal\, and Pakistan. The session revolved around the topic ‘Reinventing Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Youth Peaceful Movement and Technology.’ Each youth participant shared their experiences about their work in their respective countries and advancing nonviolent civil resistance such as in the contexts of Myanmar and some regions in India\, particularly from the perspectives of youth and technology. This session fostered a collaborative environment for various stakeholders to engage in a meaningful dialogue for peaceful coexistence . \n\n\n\nHisham Muhaimi (at the podium) was moderating an open mic session involving 10 youth changemakers from South and Southeast Asia \n\n\n\nPanellists on “Dialogue on Violent Extremism and the Involvement of Women and Youth” receiving tokens of appreciation from the host\, AMAN Indonesia. URL:https://initiate.my/event/2023-international-conference-and-aman-assembly/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231002T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20231002T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231101T071236Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231120T132337Z UID:17065-1696233600-1696266000@initiate.my SUMMARY:LUMINATE's Youth Rountable Discussion DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 2 October 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) participated in a Youth Roundtable Discussion organised by the LUMINATE Foundation. The workshop gathered 28 youth leaders from various backgrounds in the civil society sector. The workshop’s primary aim encompassed a collaborative exchange of best practices in fostering youth participation and engagement\, aspirations and experiences of young activists and researchers.  \n\n\n\nThe roundtable explored various aspects of working in the social impact industry from the perspective of a youth person. It also served as a space to recenter participants on their involvement in the social impact and why it matters to them. The roundtable discussion also explored other topics such as professional growth\, mental health and financial responsibilities. \n\n\n\nINITIATE.MY applauds Luminate Foundation for offering a valuable platform to young professionals engaged in the social impact sector. INITIATE.MY firmly believes that such a space is essential for enabling youth to connect with like-minded individuals who share their dedication to driving positive social change including in social cohesion and tolerance.  \n\n\n\nIt allows them to openly discuss the challenges encountered in the civil society profession and collectively brainstorm solutions. The objective is to cultivate an inclusive ecosystem that empowers youth\, placing a strong emphasis on incorporating youth perspectives and leadership. URL:https://initiate.my/event/luminates-youth-rountable-discussion/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230926T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230926T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231101T071033Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231102T022058Z UID:17060-1695715200-1695747600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Conference on (Re)Assessing the Threat of Violent Extremism and Radicalisation in Malaysia DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 26 September 2023 – Malaysia’s School of Politics\, History\, and International Relations (PHIR) of the University of Nottingham convened an international conference on extremism and radicalisation at the Kuala Lumpur Teaching Centre (KLTC). \n\n\n\nIn the roundtable session\, speakers and participants delved into the dynamics of recruitment into violent extremism and effective strategies for its mitigation. The panel featured prominent figures including INITIATE.MY’s founder and director\, Aizat Shamsuddin\, alongside the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Normah Ishak from the Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch\, Kenimrod Sariburaja from the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT)\, Zan Azlee from Fat Bidin Productions\, Adlyss Adnan from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Malaysia\, and Huda Ramli from Sisters in Islam (SIS).  \n\n\n\nDuring the discussion\, Aizat stressed the criticality of data-driven analysis for assessing the evolving landscape of violent extremism. In the post-IS era\, terrorist recruitment methods have evolved\, becoming more sophisticated in addition to traditional approaches. Terrorist organisations have harnessed various technologies to target broader demographics\, enticing individuals into more complex roles\, including the dissemination of propaganda and fundraising online. \n\n\n\nFurthermore\, drawing from INITIATE.MY’s research\, Aizat emphasised the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of violent extremism. This understanding should encompass the emergence of right-wing radicalisation in Malaysia\, fueled by networks espousing ethno-nationalist ideologies. This stands in contrast to the predominant focus on Islamist ideologies within policymaking and academic literature. By recognising this phenomenon\, policymakers can formulate more effective responses to mitigate potential risks that threaten social cohesion and national security. \n\n\n\nAizat Shamsuddin (third from the right) emphasised the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of violent extremism. This understanding should encompass the emergence of right-wing radicalisation in Malaysia\, fueled by networks espousing ethno-nationalist ideologies. URL:https://initiate.my/event/conference-on-reassessing-the-threat-of-violent-extremism-and-radicalisation-in-malaysia/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230919T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230921T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231101T065630Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231101T065631Z UID:17051-1695110400-1695315600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Advanced Capacity Building Course on Strategic Communications for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 19-21 September 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) co-organised the “Advanced Capacity Building Course on Strategic Communications for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism”. This training brought together 30 participants from various sectors including government agencies\, law enforcement bodies\, civil society organisations (CSOs) especially youth leaders and activists. \n\n\n\nThe advanced course represented an in-depth continuation of the initial series in May and June 2023. This training aimed to provide the participants with essential knowledge and skills in understanding and applying strategic communications in preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE). \n\n\n\nEkraj Sabur from UNODC was welcoming the participants to the Advanced Capacity Building Course on Strategic Communications for Effective Prevention of Violent Extremism.\n\n\n\nShaik Irfan\, a researcher at INITIATE.MY was briefing the participants on housekeeping rules for the workshop.\n\n\n\nDuring the training\, participants engaged with a diverse range of topics\, including the stocktaking analysis on Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE) and the framework of PCVE communication\, which delved into topics like framing\, messaging\, and audience analysis.  \n\n\n\nLed by Dr. Noor Huda Ismail from Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)\, the course further scrutinised extremist narratives\, offering insights into both successful and unsuccessful attempts to counter them through various case studies. Understanding the intricate psychology of communication was a focal point in this training. It covers cognitive biases\, psychological factors influencing perception and belief formation\, and the impact of emotions on messaging and audience engagement. \n\n\n\nAn interactive session on “Strategies for Social Media and Digital Platforms Utilisation for P/CVE Messaging” delivered by Dr. Noor Huda Ismail from RSIS.\n\n\n\nThe course also examined the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator in the case of terrorism\, focusing on the interrelatedness of the narratives\, roles\, and identities of victimhood for both the victims and perpetrators.  \n\n\n\nPerassath Servai\, a participant of the Advanced Course was sharing his thoughts on the victim-perpetrator relationship to other participants.\n\n\n\nMoreover\, the session on “Creative Non-Fiction to Challenge Violent Extremist Narratives” underscored the potential of storytelling in countering extremist narratives. Through emotional connection\, nuanced framing\, and the promotion of critical thinking\, a good storytelling can become an effective tool in crafting counternarratives to build resilience against extremism. Participants learned to incorporate creative non-fiction techniques into their communication strategies to create alternative peaceful narratives and highlight the dangerous effects of extremism. \n\n\n\nNurnadiah Natasya from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) was presenting her input during the project pitch session.\n\n\n\nOverall\, this advanced course highlights the multi-stakeholder involvement\, with a particular emphasis on engaging the youth demographic to fortify PCVE initiatives aimed at bolstering social resilience. Confronted by the alarming surge in hate speech\, disinformation\, and the proliferation of violent content in Malaysia\, the strategic use of PCVE-oriented communications emerges as a paramount tool for countering these threats. \n\n\n\nRecognising that this training should not be a one-off engagement\, 12 exceptional participants will be chosen to represent Malaysia to present their innovative PCVE strategic communications projects at the forthcoming Strategic Communications Festival in Bali\, Indonesia. \n\n\n\nGroup 2 pitched their project of “Teh Tarik and Rojak” symbolising the food that unites all Malaysians regardless of one’s race and religion. URL:https://initiate.my/event/advanced-capacity-building-course-on-strategic-communications-for-effective-prevention-of-violent-extremism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230912T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230914T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231102T025653Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231117T130225Z UID:17075-1694505600-1694710800@initiate.my SUMMARY:Second Advanced Course: Train-the-Trainers Course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 12-14 September 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\, Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch and Safe in Custody\, had successfully co-organised the “Second Advanced Course: Train-the-Trainers Course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism.”  \n\n\n\nThis intensive one-week training served as a continuation of the previous series held in August 2023. This training brought together over 30 alumni and new participants from the Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch of the Royal Malaysia Police. The event featured six distinguished speakers representing Malaysian universities and civil society organisations\, and UNODC office in Malaysia and Bangkok who had shared their expert insights with the participants. \n\n\n\nTimo Goosman\, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political Affairs\, Press and Information was delivering his opening speech by conveying his positive hopes on the Advanced Course series.\n\n\n\nThe course aimed to further enhance the skillset of the participants in operational\, training\, and mentorship capacities for the law enforcement officials to engage communities at large\, criminal suspects and government agencies in counterterrorism responses. The training commenced with a session on “Advanced Evidence Collection: Effective Management of Experts in Collaborative Approaches to Legal Processes” that explored the role of experts in the criminal justice process\, particularly during investigations\, pre-trials and trials.  \n\n\n\nParticipants were exposed to terrorism-related offences that require expert assessment\, the eligibility of the experts\, the challenges of dealing with experts\, and how to overcome them. Understanding these technical concepts would help participants in the investigation process particularly in evidence gathering and foster a meaningful collaboration with credible experts in the field. \n\n\n\nInsightful session on “Advanced Evidence Collection: Effective Management of Experts in Collaborative Approaches to Legal Processes” delivered by Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus\, senior lecturer at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).\n\n\n\nBesides that\, the session on “Mastering the Art of Countering Terrorism Financing” covered the sophisticated trends of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/TF)\, international and national legal frameworks governing AML/TF and the roles of different agencies to collaborate in financial intelligence sharing. \n\n\n\nFurthermore\, this course also cultivated investigative methods such as the “Reid Investigative Technique”\, the criticism revolving around it\, and how the Planning\, Engaging\, Account\, Closure and Evaluation (PEACE) interview method could be a better alternative. This would instil a more structured and systematic way to interview suspects in accordance with the human rights and “Do No Harm” principles.  \n\n\n\nVickram Ragunanth from UNODC Malaysia Office presenting on “Investigative Interviewing: Capturing the Story Between The Lines.”\n\n\n\nINITIATE.MY is resolutely committed to serving as a vital bridge\, fostering strong connections between government agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs) within Malaysia’s security sector. As we look ahead to the release of the National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE)\, it becomes increasingly evident that this plan should not merely be a document but it should act as a catalyst\, facilitating extensive collaborations between the government and CSOs through well-defined mechanisms and initiatives. This collaborative synergy will be instrumental in effectively addressing the complex challenges posed by violent extremism in Malaysia and the region. URL:https://initiate.my/event/second-advanced-course-train-the-trainers-course-on-community-engagement-for-prevention-of-violent-extremism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230801T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230803T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20231101T061317Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231102T024054Z UID:17031-1690876800-1691082000@initiate.my SUMMARY:First Advanced Course: Train-the-Trainers Courses on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 1-3 August 2023 – The Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\, Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch\, and Safe in Custody\, achieved a newer milestone by co-hosting the “First Advanced Course: Train-the-Trainers Course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism.”  \n\n\n\nThis intensive one-week training served as a continuation of the previous initial series held in May 2023. This training brought together over 30 alumni and new participants from the Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch of the Royal Malaysia Police. The event featured six distinguished speakers representing Malaysian universities\, civil society organisations\, and a prominent law firm who had shared their expert insights with the participants. \n\n\n\nThe course provided a comprehensive curriculum aimed at enhancing the skillset for enforcement officials. It specifically focused on the key aspects of evidence and human rights in the investigation and prosecution phases. For example\, participants delved into learning the legal principles and procedures of the Malaysian evidence law and localised international framework of “Do No Harm” in dealing with high-risk suspects as well as adopting multi-stakeholder and gender-sensitive approaches in the overall counterterrorism responses. \n\n\n\nThe first session on “Human Rights and Policing: Building Trust and Safeguarding Suspect Rights” was delivered by Dr. Haezreena Begum\, Criminologist and Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya.\n\n\n\nAn exclusive highlight of the event was a dialogue session featuring a former security convict\, Yazid Supaat. His insights and experiences in rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) were invaluable. Participants actively engaged in the moderated discussion\, identifying strengths and challenges within Malaysia’s R&R programme and collaboratively exploring strategies for improvement. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nYazid Supaat (on the left) shared his unique testimony and insights from his experience as a former security convict during the second session (on the left).\n\n\n\nDuring a dedicated session on the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS)\, participants gained practical insights on responding to various levels of violent extremism risk. They also learned to identify key stakeholders responsible for addressing these risks. The  exercise implemented in this session underscored the collective responsibility shared among stakeholders\, emphasising that responding to threats of violent extremism extends beyond the domain of law enforcement officials alone. \n\n\n\nAizat Shamsuddin from INITIATE.MY presented on the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS) as a collaborative tool for multi-stakeholders in PCVE efforts.\n\n\n\nThe course’s concluding segment featured a “mock trial” designed to apply the acquired knowledge\, particularly in the realm of evidence and human rights\, to the handling of legal proceedings related to terrorism. This exercise aimed to sharpen participants’ investigative skills\, enhance their ability to prepare evidence meticulously\, and refine their oratory skills for effectively presenting cases in court. \n\n\n\nThe mock trial session\, facilitated by Salim Bashir\, Advocate and Solicitor at Salim Bashir\, Ruswiza & Co\, delved into the practical application of evidence and human rights in simulated criminal proceedings.\n\n\n\nLooking forward\, INITIATE.MY is committed to fortifying this partnership as a dynamic co-learning space within the security sector. This collaboration has not only bolstered the capacity building of law enforcement officials but has also significantly heightened awareness and fostered valuable networking among partner organisations in recognising the complex role of law enforcement agencies in safeguarding national security. URL:https://initiate.my/event/the-first-advanced-course-train-the-trainers-courses-on-community-engagement-for-prevention-of-violent-extremism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230626T013000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230626T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20230721T220815Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230721T220816Z UID:17014-1687743000-1687798800@initiate.my SUMMARY:TikTok Community Partner Channel DESCRIPTION:Petaling Jaya\, 26 June 2023 – INITIATE.MY\, alongside the Center for Independent Journalism\, BERSIH\, Jom Check\, and Pusat Komas\, has partnered with TikTok Malaysia through Community Partner Channel to bolster civic engagement and ensure election integrity in the country. As a community partner\, INITIATE.MY will play a crucial role in monitoring and countering the dissemination of harmful content that incites hate and violence\, particularly in the lead-up to critical events like elections. This initiative aligns with INITIATE.MY’s commitment to combat extremist behaviours including within the digital landscape and foster responsible use of social media. \n\n\n\nTikTok with other leading organisations such as BERSIH\, CIJ Malaysia\, INITIATE.MY\, Jom Check and Pusat KOMAS sharing insights on the Malaysia GE15th. (Photo credit ByteDance) URL:https://initiate.my/event/tiktok-community-partner-channel/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230529T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230608T170000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20230718T085830Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T113456Z UID:16994-1685347200-1686243600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Capacity-Building Workshop on Strategic Communication for the Prevention of Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:This short video was produced by Ridho Ristiyanto that features the activities throughout the first series of the Strategic Communication Workshop.\n\n\n\nKuala Lumpur\, 29 May-8 June 2023 – Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) co-organised two series of “Capacity Building Workshop on Strategic Communication for the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE)”. This workshop brought together over 60 participants from various sectors including government agencies\, law enforcement bodies\, civil society organisations (CSOs)\, as well as youth leaders and activists\, providing them with essential knowledge and skills in understanding and implementing strategic communications in their respective fields. \n\n\n\nThroughout the duration of the training course\, participants embarked on a comprehensive exploration of Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE) within the realms of both online and offline contexts. Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus\, an esteemed academic from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)\, served as a resource person\, sharing his invaluable insights and expertise on the subject matter. Additionally\, the participants were presented with compelling case studies from INITIATE.MY’s team\, drawing from their extensive database. These case studies shed light on incidents of IMVE\, including instances of on-campus radicalisation and the proliferation of dangerous online narratives on platforms such as TikTok\, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 general election. \n\n\n\nInsightful session on “Understanding Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE)” by Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus from UUM.\n\n\n\nThe workshop’s main trainer\, Dr. Noor Huda Ismail from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)\, delivered his expertise on strategic communications\, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the various components within this field. One notable highlight of the workshop was the screening of the influential and thought-provoking documentary film “Kembali Ke Titik” (Return to the Starting Point)\, a collaborative effort between Dr. Ismail and Mr. Ridho Dwi Ristiyanto. This documentary presented a compelling narrative about a former terrorist fighter who returned to his family\, serving as a powerful medium to effectively convey impactful messages and raise awareness among a wider audience. \n\n\n\nIn addition to Dr. Ismail’s contributions\, local practitioners in art\, media\, mediation\, and research from organisations such as the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)\, Anomalist Production\, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)\, the Institute of Research and National Integration Training (IKLIN)\, MyCheck Malaysia and IMAN Research shared their best practices\, along with the challenges they face and strategies to overcome them. Their profound insights provided diverse perspectives on countering hate and promoting inclusive narratives across a wide range of platforms and mediums. These invaluable tools are essential for fostering and safeguarding the multi-religious and ethnic diversity of Malaysia. \n\n\n\nInteractive session on the introduction to strategic communications session by Dr. Noor Huda Ismail from RSIS.\n\n\n\nAnother part of the training emphasised the practical application and customisation of key communication principles and techniques in participants’ group projects. By equipping participants with essential tools and knowledge\, the training aimed to enable meaningful engagement with target audiences and deepen their understanding of the risks and consequences related to violent extremism. \n\n\n\nIt is worth noting that this training program was part of UNODC’s Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE ASIA) initiative\, which received generous funding from the European Union. The presence and opening speeches of esteemed individuals such as Mr. Timea Magony\, Junior Professional in Delegation (JPD)\, Mr. Ekraj Sabur\, UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Officer\, and Aizat Shamsuddin\, INITIATE.MY’s Founder\, further underscored the strong support for the program’s objectives. Mr. Hisham Muhaimi\, INITIATE.MY’s Project Coordinator and the main coordinator of the training\, emphasised the importance of ongoing support for the program’s continuation and the implementation of participants’ projects in future rounds. \n\n\n\nParticipants from various backgrounds including NGOs\, creative industry and student associations were brainstorming in their own group on the utilisation of social media to counter violent extremism. URL:https://initiate.my/event/capacity-building-workshop-on-strategic-communication-for-the-prevention-of-violent-extremism/ LOCATION:Kuala Lumpur END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230508T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230519T160000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20230718T083924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T113627Z UID:16987-1683532800-1684512000@initiate.my SUMMARY:Train the Trainers Course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism DESCRIPTION:Kuala Lumpur\, 8-19 May 2023 – Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\, Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch and Safe in Custody\, successfully co-organised two series of the “Train-the-Trainers Course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism.” Over 60 participants from the Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch and the Crime Prevention and Community Safety (JPJKK) of the Royal Malaysia Police were actively engaged in this intensive two-week training program. \n\n\n\nMr. Ekraj Sabur from UNODC was welcoming the participants to the Train the Trainers course on Community Engagement for Prevention of Violent Extremism\n\n\n\nParticipants from the Counterterrorism Unit (E8) Special Branch and the Crime Prevention and Community Safety (JPJKK) were listening attentively to a briefing by Azura Nasron\, Safe in Custody’s Program Manager.\n\n\n\nThe training program was designed to augment the participants’ proficiency as first responders in thwarting cases of violent extremism in Malaysia. The comprehensive course delved into a myriad of intricate concepts and theories\, encompassing a deep comprehension of the multifaceted nature of both offline and online forms of violent extremism. It underscored the indispensable role of community policing in early detection of radicalisation indicators\, emphasising the cultivation of trust within diverse communities. Furthermore\, the course honed the participants’ interview skills\, not solely to extract information but also to foster resilient societies that possess a heightened awareness and a cooperative spirit in the prevention of extremist ideologies within their respective domains. Additionally\, the training underscored the importance of effective reporting techniques\, highlighting the meticulous collection of crucial information to construct evidence-based cases that facilitate targeted intervention and countermeasures. \n\n\n\nDistinguished experts were carefully selected to serve as resource persons for this training program. Among them were Dr. Haezreena Begum\, a scholar specialising in law and security crime prevention from Universiti Malaya (UM)\, and Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus\, an academic with expertise in the same field from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Complementing their knowledge was Dr. Chung Kai Li\, an expert in forensic psychology from the University of Reading Malaysia. Notably\, the training also benefited from the extensive experience of DCP Normah Ishak\, the Chief of Counterterrorism Police (E8)\, who has served in the police force for over three decades. Reflecting E8’s current focus on preventive measures against violent extremism in light of the decline in terror-related cases\, the importance of community policing was underscored as a crucial aspect to be fostered. \n\n\n\nDCP Normah Ishak\, the Chief of Counterterrorism Police (E8) was conveying her thoughts and expectations for the course during the opening speech.\n\n\n\nMr. Timo Goosman\, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political Affairs\, Press and Information was delivering his opening speech which highlighted the historical moment for law enforcement agencies and the civil society organisations.\n\n\n\nThis training program represents a landmark collaboration between civil society and law enforcement in the security sector of Malaysia. It symbolises a commendable demonstration of willingness and concerted efforts from both sides to pool resources and effectively address security challenges. By enhancing the capacity of the police force and providing a platform for mutual learning between civil society and law enforcement\, this collaboration exemplifies a comprehensive and inclusive approach in line with the United Nations Security Council’s mandate. It underscores the understanding that preventing violent extremism necessitates the active involvement and collective engagement of all stakeholders across society. \n\n\n\nThe training program was part of UNODC’s Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE ASIA) initiative\, generously funded by the European Union. The presence and opening speeches of Mr. Timo Goosman\, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political Affairs\, Press and Information\, and Mr. Ekraj Sabur\, UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Officer\, further underscored the support of the program’s objectives. Mr. Hisham Muhaimi\, INITIATE.MY’s Project Coordinator\, Aizat Shamsuddin\, INITIATE.MY’s Founder and Azura Nasron\, Safe in Custody’s Program Manager\, who were the main coordinators of this training\, have already begun discussions regarding the possibility of future advanced courses in the next quarter of the year.  URL:https://initiate.my/event/train-the-trainers-course-on-community-engagement-for-prevention-of-violent-extremism/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230228T110000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20230228T130000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20230313T164348Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230313T164502Z UID:16920-1677582000-1677589200@initiate.my SUMMARY:Early Findings on the Challenges and Needs of Former Security Detainees (FSDs) and Their Affected Family Members DESCRIPTION:BackgroundCurrently\, Malaysia is at the stage of finalising and soon launching its own National Action Plan to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE or NAP). One of the focus clusters is the reintegration programme of former security detainees (FSDs) and their affected family members. FSDs are defined as those who were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2021\, Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 and Prevention of Crime Act 1959. In Malaysia\, the reintegration programme with former prisoners in general is facilitated mainly by state actors\, the government and enforcement authorities. However\, there is a lack of resources given to the efforts to reintegrate FSDs and their affected family members back into the society. Last year\, INITIATE.MY organised a series of consultations and interviews with about 50 participants from FSDs and their family members themselves\, government agencies\, enforcement authorities\, lawyers\, academicians\, civil society organisations\, to find out more about the challenges and needs of FSDs and their affected family members in the reintegration programme.Our findings show that because of the criminal record from the past security offences\, they are facing difficulties in rejoining the society. This includes access to proper legal representation\, employment opportunities\, mental health services and meaningful participation on community activities.This webinar discusses INITIATE.MY early findings on the challenges and needs of FSDs and their affected family members as well as to propose recommendations on empowering the role of relevant stakeholders to play a part in deradicalisation efforts. Target Audience \n\n\n\nP/CVE Researchers\, NGOs\, policymakers and enforcement agencies \n\n\n\nModerator \n\n\n\nAzura Nasron\,Program Manager\, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)She is a graduate of Political Science who is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Malaya in the field of Southeast Asian Studies. Formally working in SUARAM\, an NGO focusing on the repeal of draconian laws. Informally\, she is the chair of student organisation – Gerakan Pembebasan Akademik\, a founding member of Rekod Media\, and also a member and contributing writer of Jurnal Sang Pemula; all three platforms focused on bringing forth ideas based on social justice. \n\n\n\nSpeakers \n\n\n\nHisham MuhaimiProject Coordinator\,Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)He is a Project Coordinator and Researcher at the Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) that is powered by Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU Malaysia). Hisham joined KMU Malaysia in 2017 and has since been active in conducting advocacy training\, workshops and seminars with youths and other stakeholders at the grassroots to promote the inclusion of religious minorities and gender equality\, and the prevention of violent extremism (P/CVE). He is also active in participating in speaking engagements and is often quoted in the news media on the topic of religious freedom\, hate speech and P/CVE. He spent 5 years studying laws and Shariah at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) from 2014 – 2019. He was also a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellow alumnus from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2018. Hisham is passionate about civic engagement\, youth advocacy\, community building and interfaith experience. \n\n\n\nDr. Mukhriz Mat RusSenior Lecturer\,Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) \n\n\n\nHe is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law\, College of Law\, Government and International Studies\, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Before joining the academia\, he served at the Attorney General’s Chambers\, Malaysia as Deputy Public Prosecutor (2008 – 2015). He is also a qualified advocate and solicitor (Malaya). Dr. Mukhriz obtained LL.B (Hons) in 2007 from the International Islamic University of Malaysia and later LL.M from the National University of Malaysia in 2014.In 2019\, he completed his Ph.D. (Criminal Justice & Counter-terrorism) at the School of law\, University of Leeds\, United Kingdom. His doctoral research is about the criminalisation approach in Malaysia’s counter-terrorism strategy. His areas of expertise and interest include international and domestic criminal law\, criminal justice\, counter-terrorism law and human rights law. \n\n\n\nDebbie AffiantyDirector\,Laboratory of Indonesian and Global Studies (LIGS)\, Muhammadiyah University\, Jakarta \n\n\n\nShe is the Executive Director of the Laboratory of Indonesia and Global Studies (LIGS)\, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP)\, Muhammadiyah University\, Jakarta. She was a member of the International Relations and Cooperation Institute (LHKI) Pimpinan Pusat Muhammadiyah from the year 2015 to 2022. Debbie is now a member of the Research Division of Aisyiyah Board\, which is the Muhammadiyah women’s wing. \n\n\n\nShe is also a member of the Streering Commitee of the Working Group on Women and Preventing Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) (WGWC). PCVE WGWC is a media of consolidating knowledge about the work of women and PCVE in Indonesia\, by taking good and bad practices\, civil society and government in implementing policies and women’s and PCVE programs. She specialises on how gender issues affect terrorism in Indonesia. URL:https://initiate.my/event/early-findings-on-the-challenges-and-needs-of-former-security-detainees-fsds-and-their-affected-family-members/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220728T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220728T160000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220726T050248Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230313T153759Z UID:16663-1659016800-1659024000@initiate.my SUMMARY:Policy Brief Launch and Webinar on ‘Mainstreaming Mediation as An Alternative Form of Conflict Resolution in Malaysia’ DESCRIPTION:Watch Recording here \nBackground \nMalaysia prides itself on a unique pluralistic society comprising members from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. This peaceful coexistence and integration is possible due to the high level of compromise and tolerance between all ethnic and religious groups. While there have been dark moments that threatened the hard-won peace (such as the violent riots of May 1969)\, Malaysia has always managed to move past it and come back stronger. \nUnfortunately\, a worrying trend of interracial conflict is re-emerging in contemporary Malaysia. INITIATE.MY’s database captured an alarming increase in intergroup conflict motivated by religious hatred and racism\, especially around the 2018 Malaysian general election. Among others\, this trend was mobilised by far-right leaning actors who instigated fear and anger among their followers and a wider public sympathetic to their cause. Most attempts to resolve these conflicts were top-down and punitive in nature\, which was ineffective over the long run. \nGiven the urgency\, this webinar will explore the problem of intergroup conflict in Malaysia and propose mediation as an alternative option to prevent conflict and promote community resilience with full consideration of targeted stakeholders. \n  \nTarget Audience  \nResearchers\, NGOs\, policymakers and enforcement agencies (local and international) in the fields of religious freedom and conflict resolution. \n  \nItinerary \n1.55 pm – 2.00 pm | Admission of Participants\n2.00 pm – 2.10 pm | Introduction by Aizat Shamsuddin\n2.10 pm – 2.25 pm | Presentation of Policy Brief by Eow Shiang Yen\n2.25 pm – 3.15 pm | Discussion by Speakers\n3.15 pm – 3.45 pm | Q&A with Participants\n3.45 pm – 4.00 pm | Conclusion\, Poll & Dispersal \n  \nSpeakers  \nAizat Shamsuddin\,\nFounder and Director\,\nInitiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)  \nHe is an analyst and practitioner in the prevention of violent extremism (PVE)\, good governance\, and human rights. He leads CSO-government preventive policy engagements\, inter- and intra-faith dialogues\, and more recently digital data developments to prevent extremism in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Besides\, he founded Komuniti Muslim Universal in 2015 with other former radicalised youths to counter extremism with counternarratives. In recognition of his work in peace and security\, he received Australia Awards scholarship from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ASEAN in 2018. Then\, he completed his master’s degree in 2020 specialising in counterterrorism\, conflict studies and political Islam from the University of Melbourne. As part of his global network in counter-extremism initiatives\, he is an alumnus of German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations and American Council of Young Political Leaders since 2018. Aizat was also trained in Sharia and law for 5 years at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia. His altruistic hope is to make the world a better place. \nEow Shiang Yen\,\nExecutive Committee\,\nMalaysian Youth Council (MBM) \nHe is the Executive Committee of the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and holds the portfolio of unity\, national integration\, and consumerism. He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in Community Nutrition at the Department of Nutrition\, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences\, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). His research focus is on maternal and infant gut health. He is also active and undertaking the leadership position in a number of youth- and religious-based organisations\, including the General Secretary of Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM). He is a peace-loving and easy-going individual\, and he enjoys working with people of different backgrounds and celebrating differences instead of magnifying them. He attended the Certificate in Inter-religious Mediation (CIRM) course co-organised by Department of Unity and National Integration and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2019 and obtained the CIRM and Certificate of Foundational Mediation Practice\, issued by the IIUM and Australiasian Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Consortium\, respectively. He is also an alumnus of INITIATE.MY’s Peace Lab for Youth (PLY). \nPuan Nurul Akmalina\,\nDeputy Director (Training Development Division)\,\nNational Integration Research and Training Institute (IKLIN) \nShe is the Deputy Director of Training and Development Division at the National Integration Research And Training Institute (ILKIN). She oversees the training of mediators under the Department of National Unity (PERPADUAN) for Certificate in Inter-religious Mediation (CIRM) course and recently known as Social Mediation between 2018 and 2022 to produce ‘community mediators’. She has the background of Political Sciences from the International Islamic University Malaysia. She is also a certified mediator. Prior to this\, she worked at the PERPADUAN in both Selangor and Sabah before being transferred to the Putrajaya office serving as the Director of PERPADUAN. She then served as the Principal Assistant Secretary at the Interfaith Harmony Section\, Community Relations Division of the Ministry of National Unity. \nSanthira Kumar Madhavan\,\nMember\, Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Hindu Advisory Board \nHe is a member of Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Hindu Advisory Board and a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Santhira Kumar Madhavan has a LLB background from University of London in 1992. He then became a student monk at the age of 24 soon after he graduated. He attended the Certificate in Inter-religious Mediation (CIRM) course co-organised by Department of Unity and National Integration and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2019 and obtained the CIRM and Certificate of Foundational Mediation Practice. He is a social worker who actively helps those who are struggling with identity crisis in their identification card such as Hindus who are classified as Muslims. Santhira is also a Spiritual Counselor\, a teacher of Hindu scriptures and an accomplished cook. \n  \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Webinar Report 5/2022\n 1 file(s) 1.93 MB\n \n \n Download URL:https://initiate.my/event/policy-brief-launch-and-webinar-on-mainstreaming-mediation-as-an-alternative-form-of-conflict-resolution-in-malaysia/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/image.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220628T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220628T163000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220624T065117Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T063929Z UID:16629-1656424800-1656433800@initiate.my SUMMARY:Policy Brief Launch and Webinar on ‘How to Tackle Hate Speech\, a Driver of Intolerance in Malaysia’ DESCRIPTION: \n\n\n\nWatch Recording here\n\nBackground\n\nHate speech plays a role in polarising society as it can lead to intolerant actions between groups of people. This is especially dangerous in Malaysia\, where race and religion are often politicised by political and religious actors for political or personal gain. Things are also getting worse; following the 2018 general election\, a spike of intolerant cases motivated by racism and religious hatred was reported by INITIATE.MY. In these cases\, political and religious actors were observed to have used hate speech to stir public fear and anger\, and mobilise protests and clashes. Although such actions are usually dealt with by the authorities through criminal prosecution\, this is far from enough to tackle a multifaceted and complex problem such as hate speech. Legal reforms and restorative justice approaches must be prioritised as well to holistically tackle hate speech as the driver of intolerant actions by focusing on public education and providing redress mechanisms for victims of hate speech.\n\nThis webinar aims to discuss the problem with hate speech regulations in Malaysia and propose holistic recommendations to tackle hate speech that leads to intolerant actions.\n\n \n\nTarget Audience \n\nResearchers\, NGOs\, policymakers and enforcement agencies (local and international)\n\n \n\nItinerary\n\n1.30 pm – 1.55 pm | Arrival of Speakers\n1.55 pm – 2.00 pm | Admission of Participants\n2.00 pm – 2.10 pm | Introduction by Vinodh Pillai\n2.10 pm – 2.25 pm | Presentation of Policy Brief by Hisham Muhaimi\n2.25 pm – 3.15 pm | Discussion by Speakers\n3.15 pm – 3.45 pm | Q&A with Participants\n3.45 pm – 4.00 pm | Conclusion\, Poll & Dispersal\n\n \n\nSpeakers \n\nVinodh Pillai\nIndependent Journalist\n\nHe is an independent journalist\, editor and human rights advocate. He has spent most of his career platforming those without a voice and pushing for more stories of lived realities. He has done this through his previous work as a news reporter and human rights programme officer\, and continues to do so on a freelance basis. His most recent written work\, the Queer Lapis Sex Work Series\, was published last year\, and aimed at destigmatising sex work in Malaysia. Vinodh has had bylines on news portals such as Malaysiakini\, Free Malaysia Today\, CodeBlue and Cilisos. He was previously attached to civil society organisations like the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy (2019-2020) and the Centre for Independent Journalism (2020-2022)\, where he worked on health and freedom of expression/media freedom reforms\, respectively. He is currently working with UNICEF Malaysia on a project highlighting the stories of children affected by migration. Vinodh holds a Bachelor’s degree in professional communications from the International University of Malaya-Wales.\n\nHisham Muhaimi\nProject Officer\,\nInitiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\n\nHe is a Project Officer of the Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) since 2021 and a member of KMU Malaysia since 2017. His active involvement includes conducting advocacy training\, workshops and seminars with youths and other stakeholders to promote the inclusion of religious minorities and gender equality\, and the prevention of violent extremism (PVE). He has an educational background in Shariah and law from the Islamic Science University of Malaysia.\n\nDr. Murni Wan Mohd Nor\nSenior Lecturer\,\nUniversiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)\n\nShe is a Senior Lecturer in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) holding a PhD in Law. Her focus is on the issue of hate speech\, the harms it brings\, and the need for specific legislation. Her current research interests extend to media representation on racial and religious issues\, Islamophobia\, as well as combating hate speech and fake news within the community. Dr Murni cares deeply for fostering racial unity and interfaith understanding; having written a number of published articles on the matter and organised successful interfaith dialogue sessions. She has held several consultancies on human rights and hate speech-related projects such as with The Centre\, UNDP and CENTHRA. It is her hope that the usage of hate speech and its negative impact can be lessened through the introduction of a comprehensive and holistic framework to address hate speech.\n\nYB Howard Lee\nState Legislative Assemblyperson\,\nPasir Pinji\, Perak\n\nHe is a Malaysian politician\, currently serving his second term as the Perak State Legislative Assemblyman for Pasir Pinji (N.27) as well as Democratic Action Party Central Executive Committee member. He has risen to the top of every youth political organisation he has been affiliated to\, including the worlds’ largest Youth Political organisation in the world- the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) as its 24th President. During his tenure\, he was the global focal point for SDG8 under the auspices of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) He was also DAPSY (DAP’s Youth Wing) National Chief\, and was also the Pakatan Harapan Youth National Chief. During the 22 months of Pakatan Harapan’s rule\, He was the Perak State Government Executive Council Member for Youth & Sports Development. His specific areas of policy interests include Human Economy\, Food security and supply\, TVET\, Tourism and service based economy.\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Webinar Report 4/2022\n 1 file(s) 1.19 MB\n \n \n Download URL:https://initiate.my/event/policy-brief-launch-and-webinar-on-how-to-tackle-hate-speech-a-driver-of-intolerance-in-malaysia/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screenshot-391.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220427T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220427T160000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220425T045634Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T063956Z UID:16556-1651068000-1651075200@initiate.my SUMMARY:Policy Brief Launch and Webinar on How to Tackle On-campus Radicalisation and Improve Community Resilience DESCRIPTION:Watch Recording here\n\nBackground\n\nThe spread of global terrorism from Islamist terror groups like Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Daesh/ Islamic State (IS) has arrived at the doorsteps of Malaysian campuses to radicalise and recruit our youths by exploiting their passion\, curiosity\, and anger about the world\, religion\, and injustices. Despite the collapse of their movement\, their ideologies and networks remain intact and can reemerge in newer manifestations whenever emboldened by global and domestic political developments.\n\nRadicalisation is a process with various ideological\, operational\, and structural drivers. However\, given the complexity of this problem\, university administrations do not yet have the right mechanisms in place to address it. They can only cooperate with the police to deal with terrorist-related crimes committed by university students and staff\, such as possession of jihad reading materials or membership of a terrorist organisation. Clearly\, this is not enough to address the problem.\n\nHence\, this webinar will discuss the problem of on-campus radicalisation and recommendations for a more holistic early response from the university administration and other stakeholders such as the police\, civil society organisations (CSOs)\, and the campus community. They should play a collective and proactive role in tackling radicalisation with a long-term goal of building campus-community resilience.\n\nItinerary\n\n1.55 pm – 2.00 pm | Admission of Participants\n2.00 pm – 2.10 pm | Introduction by Ain Nasiehah\n2.10 pm – 2.25 pm | Presentation of Policy Brief by Aizat Shamsuddin\n2.25 pm – 3.15 pm | Discussion by Speakers\n3.15 pm – 3.45 pm | Q&A with Participants\n3.45 pm – 4.00 pm | Conclusion\, Poll & Dispersal\n\n \n\nSpeakers Information\n\nAin Nasiehah\nResearch and Solution Officer\,\nAll-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM)-Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)\n\nAin Nasiehah works in the development sector specialising in gender and peace-building especially in Southeast Asian context. She has recently joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM)-Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as their Research and Solution Officer. She is also a research officer at the Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\, an Asian Youth Peace Network (AYPN) member\, a Southeast Asian youth network working on peace and conflict in the region. She has work experience in relation to project management\, consultation\, facilitation and research. Previously\, she had also been involved in the capacity building of different segments of women in the community\, from young women\, refugees\, migrants\, indigenous people to professionals at the local level. She had 7 years of experience working with a number of local women’s rights organisations namely\, All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)\, Tenaganita (refugee and migrants organisation) and Selangor Women’s Empowerment Institute (IWB).\n\nAizat Shamsuddin\nFounder & Director\, \nInitiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)\n\nAizat Shamsuddin is an analyst and practitioner in the prevention of violent extremism (PVE)\, good governance\, and human rights. He leads CSO-government preventive policy engagements\, inter- and intra-faith dialogues\, and more recently digital data developments to prevent extremism in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Besides\, he founded Komuniti Muslim Universal in 2015 with other former radicalised youths to counter extremism with counternarratives. In recognition of his work in peace and security\, he received Australia Awards scholarship from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ASEAN in 2018. Then\, he completed his master’s degree in 2020 specialising in counterterrorism\, conflict studies and political Islam from the University of Melbourne. As part of his global network in counter-extremism initiatives\, he is an alumnus of German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations and American Council of Young Political Leaders since 2018. Aizat was also trained in Sharia and law for 5 years at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia. His altruistic hope is to make the world a better place.\n\nIrfan Amalee\nCo-Founder & Executive Director\, \nPeace Generation Indonesia (PeaceGen)\n\nIrfan Amalee is the co-founder and executive director of Peace Generation Indonesia (Peacegen). He founded Peacegen on the idea that young people can develop and practise their own approaches to peace\, tolerance\, and nonviolence as a deliberate alternative to the growing influence of religious and political extremism. By working with religious organisations to reach adolescents\, Irfan aims his work at schools\, extra-curricular clubs\, and alumni networks where radicalization often takes place. He also has a Masters from Brandeis University (USA) and over 15 years of experience in publishing book and media for kids industry while serving as a CEO at Pelangi Mizan and Mizan Apps Publisher. He has published over 50 books\, audios and videos including Encyclopedia for Muslim Kids\, Islam for Kids\, and 12 peace modules for kids. Irfan has awards including International Young Creative Entrepreneur 2008\, UAJY Multiculturalism Award 2010 and Young Creative Enterprise from Kemenparekraf 2012. Irfan is also recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre – RISSC\, Aman\, Jordan.\n\nDr. Nurul Miza Rashid\nLecturer\,\nDepartment of Psychology\, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (IIUM)\n\nDr. Nurul Miza is a lecturer at the Department of Psychology\, Abdul Hamid Abu Sulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences\, International Islamic University of Malaysia. Nurul Miza teaches psychology courses including Media Psychology for undergraduates. She recently finished and passed her thesis on identifying risk factors of radicalisation in Malaysia at the same university she is currently teaching. She is currently in the work of building a rehabilitation module of ex-detainees and women in prevention against violent extremism. Her other research includes examining the dissemination of ideologies related to non-normative mindset through social media.\n\nEow Shiang Yen\nGeneral Secretary\,\nYoung Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM)\n\nEow Shiang Yen is an alumnus of INITIATE.MY’s Peace Lab for Youth (PLY). He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in Community Nutrition at the Department of Nutrition\, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences\, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). His research focus is on maternal and infant gut health. He is also active and undertaking the leadership position in a number of youth- and religious-based organisations\, including Executive Committee of Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and General Secretary of Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM). He is a peace-loving and easy-going individual\, and he enjoys working with people of different backgrounds and celebrating differences instead of magnifying them.\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Webinar Report 3/2022\n 1 file(s) 1.71 MB\n \n \n Download URL:https://initiate.my/event/policy-brief-launch-and-webinar-on-how-to-tackle-on-campus-radicalisation-and-improve-community-resilience/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Siti-Aishah-thumbnail.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220305T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220305T163000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220425T060417Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220525T075135Z UID:16563-1646488800-1646497800@initiate.my SUMMARY:Closed Consultation on Youth Radicalisation in Malaysian Universities DESCRIPTION:Place: Liberal Latte\, Bukit Damansara\nDate: 5th March 2022 (Saturday)\nTime: 1.45 pm – 4.15 pm (MYT)\nAttendance: 22 representatives from Malaysian CSOs\, academics\, university staff\, religious and student leaders  \nSince 2016\, the number of detained university students associated with cases of extremism is increasing and their radicalisation is propelled by extremist/terrorist groups from Islamist orientation. University students have always been the target to exploit their passion\, curiosity\, and anger about the world\, religion\, and injustices. Plus\, they were exposed to extremist messages and ideologies via the internet\, religious classes and close relationships with their academic instructors. Siti Noor Aishah Atam is a landmark case that illustrates student radicalisation in a public university. To unpack the phenomena of radicalisation amongst university students\, there are two related factors. Firstly\, pull factors like the employment of violence to destroy enemies\, to represent communities at the margin and using violence as an alternative. Secondly\, push factors that include ideal university environment\, the search for hidayah or seeking for spiritual guidance and online radicalisation.  \nAttendees of this closed-consultation discussed the in-depth history of extremist/terrorist movement from the period of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) to Islamic State (IS) and pull and push factors of radicalisation among university students in Malaysia. Holistic recommendations were also explored to find ways to address this problem. The findings from this consultation will inform INITIATE.MY’s policy brief on on-campus radicalisation and community resilience.  \n  URL:https://initiate.my/event/closed-consultation-on-youth-radicalisation-in-malaysian-universities/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Events-Templates-e1652420728420.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220224T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220224T160000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220218T054510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220513T052551Z UID:16304-1645711200-1645718400@initiate.my SUMMARY:Policy Brief Launch & Webinar on NAPPCVE: Empowering The Role of Civil Society Organisations DESCRIPTION:  \n \n[Closed Webinar] \nBackground:  \nThe mandate to develop the National Action Plan on Prevention and Counter Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE) is derived from the United Nations General Assembly 70/674 in 2015 to address the changing threats of violent extremism. Many countries have come up with their own action plans\, among them Indonesia (2020-2024) and Kenya (2020-2024). At the time of writing\, Malaysia is still developing its NAP under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry\, with the launch expected in the first quarter of 2022.  \nThe mandate puts forward an interdisciplinary “All-of-society” and “All-of-government” approach. Hence\, civil society organisations (CSOs) are one of the key stakeholders in combating extremism and promoting peace. However\, in the Malaysian context\, more efforts are needed to empower the role of CSOs to achieve the overall success of NAP. \nThis webinar will present and explore the urgency of developing the National Action Plan for Malaysia and the role of CSOs in the development and implementation of NAP. Furthermore\, viable recommendations to boost cooperation between a wider CSOs and government bodies/agencies based on the best practices learned. \nItinerary:  \n1.55 pm – 2.00 pm | Admission of Participants\n2.00 pm – 2.10 pm | Introduction by Dr. Mukhriz Mat Rus\n2.10 pm – 2.25 pm | Presentation of Policy Brief by Aizat Shamsuddin\n2.25 pm – 3.15 pm | Discussion by Speakers\n3.15 pm – 3.45 pm | Q&A with Participants\n3.45 pm – 4.00 pm | Conclusion\, Poll & Dispersal \n  \nSpeakers’ Information \nDr. Mukhriz Mat Rus\nSenior Lecturer\,\nUniversiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) \nDr. Mukhriz Mat Rus is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law\, College of Law\, Government and International Studies\, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Before joining the academia\, he served at the Attorney General’s Chambers\, Malaysia as Deputy Public Prosecutor (2008-2015). He is also a qualified advocate and solicitor (Malaya). Mukhriz obtained LL.B (Hons) in 2007 from the International Islamic University of Malaysia\, and later LL.M from the National University of Malaysia in 2014. In 2019\, he completed his Ph.D.(Criminal Justice & counter-terrorism) at School of Law\, University of Leeds\, United Kingdom. His doctoral research is about the criminalization approach in Malaysia’s counter-terrorism strategy. His areas of expertise and interest include international and domestic criminal law\, criminal justice\, counter-terrorism law\, and human rights law. \nAizat Shamsuddin\nFounder & Director\,\nInitiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) \nAizat is an analyst and practitioner in the prevention of violent extremism (PVE)\, good governance\, and human rights. Since 2015\, he is the founder and project coordinator of Komuniti Muslim Universal. It was founded by former radicalised youth to counter extremism through counter-narratives\, dialogues and preventive policy engagements in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. In recognition of his work in peace and security\, he received Australia Awards scholarship from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ASEAN in 2018. Then\, he completed his master’s degree specialising in counter-terrorism\, conflict studies and political Islam from the University of Melbourne in 2020. As part of his global network in counter-extremism initiatives\, he is an alumnus of German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations and American Council of Young Political Leaders since 2018. Aizat is also trained in Sharia and law for 5 years at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia. His altruistic hope is to make the world a better place. \nDwi Rubiyanti Kholifah\nSecretary General\,\nAsian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) \nDwi Rubiyanti Kholifah (Ruby Kholifah) is Secretary General  of the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN). Her engagement in women peace and  security started with the Indonesia program in 2007. With AMAN in Indonesia\, she initiated Women School for Peace to facilitate a leadership incubator for women to strengthen community resilience through the role of women. Managing 39 Women’s  School for Peace in 7 provinces of Indonesia\, has involved more than 1500 interfaith  mothers as leaders of change. In implementing UNSCR 1325 on Women\, Peace and  Security (WPS)\, AMAN has been actively facilitating constructive engagement of CSO into the decision making process. As part of the drafting committee of National Action Plan (NAP) 1325  in Indonesia\, AMAN has facilitated localisation of NAP 1325 (RAN P3AKS) into 15  provinces in Indonesia.   \nDr. Ahmad El-Muhammady\nAssistant Professor\,\nInternational Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM) \nDr. Ahmad is an Assistant Professor at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC-IIUM). Besides that\, he holds various external positions such as Associate Fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT)\, The Hague\, Netherlands; International Advisory Committee Member at Global Peace Institute (GPI)\, United Kingdom\, Associate Research Fellow at the Accounting Research Institute (ARI)\, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)\, Malaysia\, and Deputy Director\, Alumni Relations Division (ARD)\, IIUM. Since 2011\, he works closely with the Special Branch’s Counter-Terrorism Division\, Royal Malaysia Police and Prison Department to implement the Rehabilitation and Deradicalisation programs for individuals detained under terrorism laws in Malaysia.  He is now a Co-principal investigator for a two-year research at the IIUM- ISTAC’s Extremism Analytical Unit in collaboration with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses of Terrorism (START)\, University of Maryland (2018-2020) and consultant to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) to develop National Action Plan for Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE) in Malaysia. \nDCP Normah Ishak\nPrincipal Assistant Director\,\nSpecial Branch’s Counter Terrorism Division (E8)\,Royal Malaysia Police \nDeputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Normah Ishak has served in the Special Branch of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) for 30 years. She spent the first 12 years of her service in the area of counter-espionage and counterintelligence. DCP Normah then ventured into protective security where she was deeply involved in a wide range of protection work in various capacities including physical protection of key infrastructures. She spent a total of 11 fulfilling years in protective security\, during which she had the opportunity to contribute in ways that have resulted in significant outcomes for some of Malaysia’s landmarks and major infrastructures. From April 2016\, DCP Normah has been serving in the field of counter-terrorism where she plans\, coordinates and executes security operations against terrorism threats in Malaysia. Throughout her years with the RMP\, DCP Normah received training in  nuclear security matters and has participated in many engagement activities organised  by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). DCP Normah is also an alumna of  the FBI National Academy. She is currently the Principal Assistant Director in charge  of the RMP’s Counter-Terrorism Division. \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Webinar Report 2/2022\n 1 file(s) 4.00 KB\n \n \n Download URL:https://initiate.my/event/policy-brief-launch-webinar-on-nappcve-empowering-the-role-of-civil-society-organisations/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/24402645745_aa598d48bc_b.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220217T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20220217T160000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220210T095741Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220728T112426Z UID:16173-1645106400-1645113600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Database Launch & Webinar on ‘The Importance of Datafication in Promoting Religious Freedom and Tolerance’ DESCRIPTION:  \n \n  \nWatch Recording here \nBackground \nReligious freedom and tolerance are a pillar for a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society like Malaysia. In promoting this\, the scarcity of data remains a challenge to produce evidence-based responses from the government or civil society actors. Datafication of laws and cases can help understand the level of restrictions and emerging trends that impact religious freedom and tolerance in a particular context. It can guide various actors to produce informed\, appropriate and effective responses such as legal reforms or advocacy programmes to address the matter at hand. \nThus\, at this event INITIATE.MY will launch its first Databases on religious freedom and tolerance\, and further explore the importance and challenges in relation to this issue in a webinar with eminent speakers from diverse backgrounds. \nSome of the questions that this webinar intends to explore include\, what are the challenges in relation to data in the fields of religious freedom and tolerance in Malaysia? Why is datafication important for the government and civil society actors to promote religious freedom and tolerance? \nItinerary \n1.55 pm – 2.00 pm | Admission of Participants\n2.00 pm – 2.15 pm | Database Launch by Aizat Shamsuddin\n2.15 pm – 3.15 pm | Discussion by Speakers\n3.15 pm – 3.45 pm | Q&A with Participants\n3.45 pm – 4.00 pm | Conclusion\, Poll & Dispersal \n  \n  \nSpeakers’ Information \nAizat Shamsuddin\nFounder & Director\,\nInitiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY) \nAizat Shamsuddin is an analyst and practitioner in the prevention of violent extremism (PVE)\, good governance\, and human rights. Since 2015\, he is the founder and project coordinator of Komuniti Muslim Universal\, a non-profit organisation founded by former radicalised youth to counter extremism through counternarratives\, dialogues and preventive policy engagements and more recently data developments in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. In recognition of his work in peace and security\, he received Australia Awards scholarship from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ASEAN in 2018. Then\, he completed his master’s degree specialising in counterterrorism\, conflict studies and political Islam from the University of Melbourne in 2020. As part of his global network in counter-extremism initiatives\, he is an alumnus of German Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations and American Council of Young Political Leaders since 2018. Aizat is also trained in Sharia and law for 5 years at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia. His altruistic hope is to make the world a better place. \nDr. Hew Wai Weng\nResearch Fellow\,\nInstitute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) UKM  \nDr. Hew Wai Weng is research fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies\, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (IKMAS\, UKM). His research interests include the intersections between ethnicity\, religiosity\, class and politics in Malaysia and Indonesia. He writes about Chinese Muslim identities\, Hui migration patterns\, and urban middle class Muslim aspirations in Malaysia and Indonesia. He has been a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute\, Singapore\, and Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO)\, Berlin. He is also the author of ‘Chinese Ways of Being Muslim: Negotiating Ethnicity and Religiosity in Indonesia’ (NIAS Press\, 2018). \nYB Syerleena Abdul Rashid\nState Assemblyperson\,\nSri Delima\, Penang \nYB Syerleena Abdul Rashid is currently the elected State Assemblyperson for Seri Delima in Penang. Syerleena had previously been appointed as a Councillor of the Penang Island City Council\, serving for over three years between 2015 and 2018. She is also Democratic Action Party (DAP) Penang Assistant Publicity Secretary and DAP Wanita National Executive Committee Member. In addition to her political involvements\, Syerleena had been a columnist for The Malaysian Insider and contributed extensively in various online news portals. She was also formerly a member of Aliran\, a local non-governmental organisation\, as well as an anti-human trafficking movement. \nAdrian Pereira\nExecutive Director\,\nNorth South Initiative (NSI) \nAdrian Pereira is the Executive Director and co-founder of North-South Initiative (NSI)\, a Human Rights and Social Justice orientated organisation based in Malaysia. NSI’s mission is to build a society that prioritises social justice via solidarity building. Adrian has also been involved in human rights and faith related advocacy as a member of Pax Romana.  Besides interfaith dialogues in Malaysia\, he has been working with young Muslims from Patani on conflict resolution via an internship program at NSI. This has helped in building strong solidarity between Malaysian and Patani youth over the years.   \nKuek Ser Kuang Keng\nData Editor\,\nRainforest Investigations Network\, Pulitzer Center \nKuek Ser Kuang Keng is the data editor of the Rainforest Investigations Network established by the Pulitzer Center. He is also a data journalism trainer and media consultant based in Kuala Lumpur\, Malaysia. Partnering with regional journalism organisations including Google News Initiatives\, WAN-IFRA and Internews\, he has been conducting regular digital journalism workshops since 2018\, reaching over 1\,000 journalists in Asia. He also provides consulting and mentoring to media organisations in data\, visual and interactive journalism. \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Webinar Report 1/2022\n 1 file(s) 2.24 MB\n \n \n Download URL:https://initiate.my/event/initiate-my-database-launch-webinar-on-the-importance-of-datafication-in-promoting-religious-freedom-and-tolerance/ LOCATION:Malaysia\, Malaysia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1-3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20211222T140000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20211222T163000 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20220425T061520Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220425T222844Z UID:16567-1640181600-1640190600@initiate.my SUMMARY:Closed Consultation with Malaysian Civil Society Organisations on ‘the National Action Plan on Prevention and Counter Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE)’ DESCRIPTION:venttoioio \nPlatform: Zoom Webinar\nDate: 22nd December 2021 (Wednesday)\nTime: 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm (MYT)\nAttendance: 25 representatives from diverse Malaysian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) \nThe Drafting Committee of the National Action Plan on Prevention and Counter Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE/NAP) organised a town hall on 18th November 2021 at Tenera Hotel to acquire feedback from Malaysian CSOs on the NAP zero draft. As of date\, several CSOs who joined the consultation indicated that the process was selective and hasty. As of date\, only three government-CSOs consultations were organised with a limited number of CSOs to give feedback on a zero draft that has been decided as opposed to being involved in the drafting process. It was concluded that the ongoing consultation process is exclusive and not transparent. Some of the most important CSOs who have directly or indirectly worked in the areas of Prevention/Counter of Violent Extremism (P/CVE) and human rights were not being involved and properly consulted. It is clear that the government is not serious about adopting the interdisciplinary “All-of-society” and “All-of-government” approach to address the drivers of violent extremism as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 70/674 (2015). This should not have happened for a national-level policymaking process. \nIn response\, INITIATE.MY organised an independent consultation on NAP on 22nd December 2021 with more than 25 representatives from a wider Malaysian CSOs to collect feedback and recommendations on the NAP drafting process. The participants agreed that the NAP process should be a stepping stone for the government to show honest commitments to address extremism and greater accountability in the security area. Hence\, the role of CSOs is vital in a national-level democratic process like the NAP to localise the approaches and ensure the sustainable impacts in addressing violent extremism. The independent consultation has resulted in the collection of feedback and recommendations to develop holistic NAP\, and the formation of the first civil society P/CVE network in Malaysia to exchange knowledge and best practices in relation to P/CVE. The outcome of this consultation was documented in a report on Malaysian Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs) Recommendations on the National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (NAPPCVE).  URL:https://initiate.my/event/closed-consultation-with-malaysian-civil-society-organisations-on-the-national-action-plan-on-prevention-and-counter-violent-extremism-nappcve/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screenshot-10-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20211015 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20211116 DTSTAMP:20260410T001211 CREATED:20211014T043015Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230131T103131Z UID:15847-1634256000-1637020799@initiate.my SUMMARY:Peace Lab For Youth DESCRIPTION:Peace Lab for Youth (PLY) is a one-month initiative that starts with a workshop series and concludes with a summit that includes the participation of diverse youths and presenters from government agencies\, civil society organisations\, academia and businesses. PLY is one of INITIATE.MY’s public advocacy initiatives to empower young advocates of peace and tolerance to build social resilience against violent and nonviolent extremism in Malaysia. PLY curriculum includes Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB)\, Radicalisation\, Advocacy Tools\, Advocacy Skills and Project Implementation & Reporting. \nPLY recognises the role of youth in the promotion of peace\, human rights and nonviolence. This is in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015)\, 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020). \nFor more information\, please download our Peace Lab For Youth Handbook here. URL:https://initiate.my/event/peace-lab-for-youth/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://initiate.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/peace-lab-for-youth-en.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR