OSCE Mission in Kosovo trains women-led NGOs and women from rural areas in identifying and preventing violent extremism and radicalization

PRIZREN, 4 March 2024 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo organized two training courses for women-led NGOs and women from rural areas in Prizren region on how to recognize and respond to potential cases of violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism (VERLT). 

The events brought together over 40 women from remote rural areas and women NGO representatives from the municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Mamuşa/Mamushë/Mamuša and Prizren.

Recognizing the pivotal role that women play within their families and communities, the trainings focused on enhancing their capacities to identify as well as to prevent and counter VERLT. Concerns such as wrongful suspicion, violent misogyny, stereotypes and discrimination, and the potential chilling effect on exercising freedom of expression, religion or belief were also addressed.

To share best practices with deradicalization and rehabilitation programmes of foreign fighters and their families, the Kosovo Police representatives provided participants with an overview of the state of play of VERLT at local level and Kosovo-wide, while stressing the importance of working with women and children for their reintegration into society.

“Stereotyping and gender roles are exacerbated in rural or smaller communities, compared with urban areas, and oftentimes discrimination starts within the family. That is why education is not only important to emancipate women, but also to break gender roles and stay away from violent extremism and radicalization groups that perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes,” said Ramiye Şala, Manager of the NGO Mamuşa Emekçi Kadınlar Derneği (Mamuşa/Mamushë/Mamuša Working Women’s Association).

During discussions, participants emphasized the important role of informal and formal education, in institutions and at home in preventing VERLT and in detecting its early signs. Above all, it was determined that training of women was of paramount importance to prevent and counter VERLT and to avoid being lured to joining extremist or terrorist groups, which tend to perpetuate the patriarchal system and relegate women to a secondary role.

Furthermore, the participants also shed light on the importance of monitoring the exposure of children and teenagers to information on the Internet and all its risks, such as fake news and online hate speech, as it may lead to radicalization and extremism if one is not educated on a certain topic or versed in religion.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue its work in capacity building as well as media and information literacy, also including men in similar trainings to demonstrate how patriarchal attitudes may lead to unwanted or unforeseen cases of VERLT, as detailed in the OSCE policy brief on “The linkages between violent misogyny and VERLT” shared during the events.