TIC E In Partnership with Think Peace with the Support of Pat-Mali (USAID/OTI-AECOM Project) Regional CVE Workshop for Civil Society Leaders Activity Report 05-11 November 2015 Hotêl ONOMO, Bamako - Mali.
CVE and the role of civil society : Security measures against violent extremism does not fight the problem at its core. A participatory approach, where government and nongovernment actors play a role is very important to counter the problem at its core. In addition, unlike counterterrorism, countering violent extremism (CVE) is a new paradigm that aims at addressing structural and social conditions enabling recruitment and radicalization to violent extremism. In CVE, we focus on prevention with the goal of building more conflict resilient communities. CVE prioritizes the role of civil society to implement education, arts, and interfaith activities in communities to counter the propaganda of extremists.
Need Statement: Regional CVE Workshop for Civil Society Leaders 5-11 November, Bamako Mali In January 16, 2012, an armed conflict broke out in Northern Mali and Al Qaeda network in the Sahel capitalized on the opportunity to seize a weakened region. The French intervened military to aid the expulsion of the radical rebels in January, 2013. After the French intervened, A U.N. peacekeeping mission MINUSMA was launched to help aid the political process towards peace, which continues today. The military intervention didn t achieve a sustainable peace because military force does not combat the problem at its core. The USAID/OTI and AECOM with their partners worked to strengthen civil society movement to advocate for peace through: the Plate forme for Peace Ensemble Nous Sommes Un Peuple which is a network of civil society leaders advocating for peace in Mali, and Think Peace which is a Malian local Think Tank. In September 2015, a Global Youth Summit on Countering Violent Extremism was organized in New York City to define a Youth Action Agenda to redefine the role of youth as CVE partners. Think Peace in partnership with TICVE~Building Peace used the Summit's Youth Action Agenda as a basis to develop a Mali-specific Youth CVE Agenda. With support from the MTI program, Think Peace and TICVE brought together a group of 53 young civil society leaders from across Mali for a one-week workshop in Bamako to build their capacities regarding CVE and draft a Youth Agenda. This Agenda will be used as a tool to raise the issue of youth and community engagement to counter violent extremism with the Malian government and the broader spectrum of Malian civil society. Objectives: -Introduce civil society in Mali leaders to the new CVE Approach. -Bring 53 civil society leaders from all the regions in Mali to work together on a CVE youth Action Agenda for Mali. -Produce a Policy brief (one to two pages) with recommendation on how to counter violent extremsim in Mali to publish in news papers and publish online. -Produce a youth action agend 2016-2020 for Mali. Methodology: The Workshop was a combination of presentations followed by (questions and answers), discussions and group work. We had three workshops per day two were trainers presentations and one was a group work where the participants were introduced to specific guidlines which helped them write their action agenda and their policy brief. Professors presentations aimed to understand violent extremsim from an interdisceplanary approach. Looking at economic, political, social, and religious factors associted with violent extremism.
The working groups aimed to do an internal analysis of Mali, understaning the push/and pull factors to violent extremism in Mali and in each locality present in the room. Understanding the local approchaes used to counter violent extremism in Mali. Understanding the best practices and lessons learned after the Mali crisis. The second phase of the working groups aimed to do a Vioenlt Extremism SWOT analysis for Mali, looking at the weakness, strenthgs, challenges and oportunities to counter violent extremism. The thirst phase of the working group aimed to write a shared vision, mission and a youth action plan and a policy brief to counter violent extremism in Mali. Findings and Statistics: We distributed at the end an evaluation form, the majority of the participants were satisfied with the training and 94 % answered that they have a better understanding of CVE after the training. In addition 94% answered that they prefere a participatory approach to CVE than only a security approach. However we have to take into consideration that Among 53 participants only 34 answered our evaluation.
The Workshop brought together 53 articipants from all the regions in Mali: Kayes, Koilikoro, Nara, Banamba, Koutiala, Bougouni, Sikasso, Segou, Niono, Mopti, Djenne, Douentza, konna, Gao, N'tilit, Kadji, Bourem, Menaka, Toumbouctou, Niafunke, Dire, Gourma Rharous, Goundam, Kidal, Bamako.
Taking into consideration that only 34 participants answered our survey. For The push and pull factors to VE in Mali Most of the participants answered that the main factors that pushes youth to joing violent extremists groups are: Poverty, Marginalization, employment, bad governance, failed state, injustice, corruption, religious influence, low socio -economique factors, brain washing, exclusion, racism, youth exclusion, fanaticisme (religious), bad interpretation of religion, insecurity, social injustice, radical interpratation of the Koran, Ideological manipulation, religious leaders influence, and stigmatization. Regarding violent extremist groups present in Mali the participants answered: AQMI, MUJAO, Ansar Dine, Islamistes, separatistes, Amadou Kounfa, Jihadists, Trafiquants, Bandits, Ahlou Sounna wal jaamat, MNLA, EI, HCUA, les pieds nus, les bandit du desert de Nara, Hamadou Koufa. Some respondants said that in Segou and Koulilou they dont have violent extremsit groups. Regarding actions they will take when they are back home: o I will use radio URTEL to inform others. o I will Advocate to fight corruption and injustice with our local decision makers. o Raising awarness through radio, organize similar workshops in my region. o Inclusion of youth and organizing CVE workshops. o Raising awarness in my region. o Share what i learned with youth civil society leaders in my region and bring youth of my locality together to discuss CVE. o Identifying youth at risk to join violent extremist groups. o Sharing what i learned in this workshop with members of my organization, if i had the means i would organize the same workshop in circles in my region. o Raise awarness, Inform and Mentorship o Explain what is violent extremism, and how to combat it. o Engage women in my locality, religious leaders and village leaders.
Quotes: " as soons as i get home, i want to bring youth of my commune together and share with them what i leanred" " i will organize a youth CVE workshop, brign youth volunteers to CVE through,debate, radio shows, visits, and conferences" In our survey we also asked the participants at the end if there is a relation between violent extremism and Liberty, Rule of Law, unmployment and ideoloy :