PARTNER REPORT
Why civil society and security sector partnerships matter
2017 – Melinda Holmes
A brief on policy and practice to inform national strategies for preventing violent extremism and promoting sustainable peace
In February 2017 the Global Solutions Exchange (GSX) meeting on the nexus of security, gender and extremism was held in London bringing members of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) and other women and youth-led organizations engaged in the prevention of violent extremism efforts together with military and security personnel, representatives of governments and multilateral organizations to analyze the impact of security interventions in contributing to and mitigating extremist violence. They also highlighted their own practical experiences in engaging the security sector to prevent and counter violent extremism including through trust building with communities, respect of human rights, and gender sensitivity as well as the provision of training to the police and military. Their experiences, combined with desk research on the state of current policy and practice, and consultations with over 70 women peacebuilders from 30 countries at ICAN’s 2015 and 2016 annual Women, Peace and Security forums inform this report.
ABOUT ICAN
The International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) promotes inclusive and sustainable peace globally. Recognizing the gendered impact of conflict and the critical role of women peacebuilders, ICAN: shapes and guides peace and security policies through thought leadership, strategic advice, and gender-responsive analysis; fosters a global movement of locally rooted women peacebuilders to have voice and influence in matters of peace, conflict, rights, and human security; and brings the word and spirit of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda to life. ICAN is a United States-based non-profit organization.