UNESCO in action: preventing violent extremism worldwide

UNESCO supports countries in crafting education programmes that build young people’s resilience to violent extremist messaging and foster a positive sense of identity and belonging. From this angle, the role of education is not to intercept violent extremists or identify individuals who may potentially become violent extremists, but to create conditions to build the defences of peace within learners through values, skills and behaviours that reject violent extremism, and by strengthening their commitment to non-violence and peace.

This work is undertaken within the broader framework of Global Citizenship Education, where UNESCO leads implementation of Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education. The work undertaken in the field of Global Citizenship Education also embraces activities pertaining to human rights and peace education, Holocaust and genocide education, and activities to combat all forms of intolerance, racism and anti-Semitism.