OSCE launches online course on fundamentals of preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department launched an E-learning Course on the ‘Fundamentals of Preventing Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism (VERLT)’ on 22 November 2022.

The self-paced e-learning course targets people with leadership potential, who are well connected in their communities, actively contribute to positive change, and are motivated to make an impact against violent extremism. It strengthens participants’ skills and knowledge in human rights-based prevention efforts so they can further contribute to building the resilience of local communities.

The course is based on the ‘Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE)’ capacity-building initiative, which draws both from the OSCE Ministerial Council Declaration 4/15 and the elements of the United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.  The LIVE initiative highlights that inclusion of civil society is imperative to effectively address all aspects of violent extremism and it aims at building related capacity to voluntarily, safely and efficiently speak up and take action against VERLT.

The course is currently available in English, with a Russian language version upcoming. Itis divided into four sessions: Understanding violent extremism; Addressing violent extremism; Media and Information literacy, and; Human rights in the context of counter-terrorism and addressing violent extremism.

This resource can be accessed free of charge on the OSCE E-learning platform.

The course was developed under an extra-budgetary programme funded by Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and the United States of America.