There were seven women and three children among the 27 people who tragically lost their lives in the English Channel this week. Women and children are frequently among those seeking a new life in Europe: as of November 21, this year 27.1% of migrants arriving by sea in the Mediterranean are women or children. The channel presents a final dangerous crossing after what is normally a long, treacherous and often violent journey. News broke of these recent tragic deaths on the eve of November 25, the...
The 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists highlights the instrumental role of prosecutorial services, in investigating and prosecuting not only killings but also threats of violence against journalists. This year’s campaign highlights the psychological trauma experienced by journalists, and stresses the need to investigate and prosecute anyone making such threats. To mark this year’s event, which coincided with the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to two inve...
The UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, issued in January 2016, called for a comprehensive response to a growing threat. As a result the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO), like all other UN agencies, will be required to consider how it can contribute to a UN response in this area. As we celebrate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, it is important also to celebrate how they can make a difference to new global challenges....
After the Paris massacre, is the warmongering of certain European leaders justified? Is it right to seek revenge or will this fan the flames of radicalism? The reality is that many young Muslims have already turned their backs on Western values and are now actively terrorising that lifestyle — often successfully! In contrast to 9/11 in the US, Western European governments have cancelled many large-scale festivities and occasions. Fear is in the hearts of Parisians, Londoners, Bruxellois, a...
Dr. Khalid Koser has been appointed Executive Director of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), the first global effort to support local, community-level initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience against violent extremist agendas. Dr. Koser, also extraordinary Professor in Conflict, Peace and Security at Maastricht University, said in Davos in early 2015: “There are lots of communities affected by violence and extremism that don’t have access to money to fi...