UN Global Sports Programme Holds Discussion on Role of Youth in Preventing Violent Extremism through Sport During Counter-Terrorism Week
On the margins of the 51³Ô¹Ï Counter-Terrorism week, the Global Sports Programme led by the 51³Ô¹Ï Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and its partners ¡ª the State of Qatar, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) hosted a side event to discuss the role of youth in preventing violent extremism (PVE) through sport on 23 June 2023, New York
Sports has long played a significant role in spreading positive values throughout the world and across civilizations and cultures, particularly among youth. In this context, the event shed light on the collaborative nature of the efforts to prevent violent extremism through sport, by gathering member states, UN entities, athletes, youth representatives, regional organizations and media to address the pivotal role of youth and institutional cooperation in the use of sport for PVE.
During the opening session dedicated to the achievements and future goals of the UN Global Sports Programme, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism highlighted the role of sport as a powerful tool for peace and development:
¡°Sport has immense potential in helping to build a lasting legacy of peace and positive values, which are critical for sustainable responses to terrorism and violent extremism.¡±
¡°Young people are critical to building resilient societies and ensuring lasting solidarity, through mechanisms such as sports, which push people to be better, aim higher and reach further.¡±
During the second session, UNAOC, on behalf of Sports Programme partners presented the working document for the Policy Recommendations on PVE-Through-Sport from a Youth Perspective, which reflects the findings of a series of regional fora between youth leaders and senior policymakers to incorporate youth insights into the national action plans to address violent extremism using sports.
The event also featured a panel discussion on the #MoreThanAGame Campaign and on how to strengthen the crucial role played by youth in effective PVE policymaking between youth participants, representatives of the African Union Sport Council, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the F¨¦d¨¦ration Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (International Federation of Professional Footballers - FIFPRO).
#MoreThanAGame was launched alongside the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by UNOCT-led Global Sports Programme in partnership with Generation Amazing Foundation. The campaign is headlined by professional footballer and UNESCO Ambassador Dr. Nadia Nadim and promotes the potential of sport as a force for good.
The UN Global Programme on the Security Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism (¡°Global Sports Programme¡±) provides technical assistance to member states on how to incorporate sport values-based PVE initiatives in national strategies for preventing violent extremism. It also supports grassroot Civil Society Organizations in implementing community-level sport-for-PVE projects and engages with youth to ensure that their unique perspectives on PVE through sport are considered by policymakers.
UNOCT implements the Global Sports Programme in partnership with UNICRI, UNAOC, and the ICSS. The Programme is funded by the State of Qatar, the Republic of Korea and the People¡¯s Republic of China through the 51³Ô¹Ï Peace and Development Fund (UNPDF).