Counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism
Violent extremism conducive to terrorism emerges from everyday forms of violence and discrimination that are embedded in societies. These may comprise systemic political exclusion, economic marginalization, and contested State–society relations, as well as gender inequality.
Women and girls experience the impacts of violent extremism and terrorism in distinct and disproportionate ways, including through sexual and gender-based violence. Terrorist groups often adopt regressive gender ideologies premised on targeting women and girls and denying their rights.
Gender-responsive approaches to counter-terrorism reflect the agency and experiences of women and girls and promote their rights and empowerment. They implement global commitments to women, peace and security, including by supporting gender-responsive security services and women’s participation and leadership in decision-making.
In deliberately reducing exclusion and inequality, gender-responsive approaches address drivers of violent extremism that may be conducive to terrorism, build peace, and bolster prevention. They stand in contrast to highly securitized and militarized counter-terrorism measures, which pay little attention to prevention and peacebuilding, instrumentalize women and gender equality, and are often ineffective.
Gaps in law and practice
There is no universal definition of terrorism. As a result, many laws related to the issue are overly broad and vague. This presents risks of reprisals and restrictions on human rights and civic space, which may disproportionately affect civil society and women’s rights groups and exacerbate grievances and distrust.
Other challenges to women’s rights arise where their participation in counter-terrorism responses is purely tokenistic or dismissed in the pursuit of narrowly defined security goals. One common consequence is a failure to address conflict-related sexual violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, both in contexts affected by terrorism and in counter-terrorism operations.
What global norms say
Security Council resolutions 2242 and 2467 outline links between women, peace and security and counter-terrorism efforts. Resolution 2242 specifically encourages Member States and the United Nations to integrate the two. In turn, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy stresses conducting gender analysis and engaging women and civil society in counter-terrorism.
Acting on these commitments may involve several strategies:
- Strengthening the gender responsiveness of counter-terrorism policies and practices by embedding rights-based prevention and peacebuilding and applying intersectional gender and power analysis.
- Advancing women’s agency as political actors and leaders of peace, such as by supporting them to lead decision-making and by investing in women’s networks.
- Integrating women’s experiences and local peacebuilding practices into policy and programming.
- Developing legitimate, inclusive and rights-based security sector institutions that deliver accountable services and meet women’s specific needs.
- Influencing global policymaking on counter-terrorism so that it integrates commitments to women, peace and security.
