Opening Remarks by Mr. Michael Møller United Nations Under-Secretary-General,
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva at the Geneva Conference on
“Preventing Violent Extremism – The Way Forward”

It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Geneva Conference on ‘Preventing Violent Extremism – The Way Forward’. I sincerely thank our co-host, the Swiss Government, for its support and cooperation in making this important event happen.

As we have witnessed terrorist attacks in Belgium, Cote d’Ivoire, Iraq, Mali, Pakistan, Turkey and other places over the past weeks there can be no doubt about the relevance of the topic of this Conference. Violent extremism has become a hallmark of our time. It affects all of us, everywhere.

Violent extremism has changed the nature of conflicts. Labels such as internal, inter-state, regional, sectarian etc. have become less relevant or accurate. Instead, transnational forces of violent extremism and organized crime combined with terrorism have come to the fore.

The messages of religious, cultural and social intolerance fostered by violent extremists are adversely impacting many regions of the world. They are making unresolved and prolonged conflicts even more intractable and creating daunting humanitarian crises. They are fueling cultural, religious and ethnic divisions.

Through their actions, by holding territory, challenging international borders, committing human rights abuses, and using the Internet and social media to promote their atrocious crimes, terrorist and violent extremist groups seek to challenge our shared values of peace, justice and human dignity.

Violent extremism is an affront to the very purposes and principles of the United Nations. It not only challenges international peace and security, but undermines the crucial work that Member States and the UN family are conducting to uphold human rights, take humanitarian action and promote sustainable development.

The United Nations is well suited to support Member States in adopting the comprehensive approach that is needed to proactively address the drivers of violent extremism. UN agencies and other international organizations in Geneva work at the crossroads of peace, rights and wellbeing and are at the core of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Providing sustainable development opportunities, reducing inequalities, safeguarding human rights and providing a hub for mediation and peace negotiations, help to create a context and change realities on the ground that are better suited to resist extremism. Geneva-based agencies and actors are well placed to address the complexity of constellations that nourish violent extremism. I am therefore very pleased that this international Conference is held here in Geneva. The Palais des Nations is a unique place, where we collectively, work on appropriate prevention and response measures.

The Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism provides an important framework to address the issue at hand. The Plan has been welcomed by the General Assembly, showing the positive commitment of the international community to unite and act against this threat.

To put the Plan into action, contributions from all actors are needed. The Secretary-General has put forward a multidimensional and “All of UN” approach. Additionally, while recognizing the importance of the principle of national ownership to effectively address violent extremism, the Plan calls on all relevant actors —governments, civil society, academia, community and religious leaders — to act in unison through an “all-of-Government” and “all-of-Society” approach.

The great response to our invitation is a testimony to your commitment to heed the Secretary-General’s call for action. We thank you for your participation and are eager to hear your thoughts on how to put in practice the more than 70 recommendations included in the Plan of Action.

In today’s discussions, I invite you to focus on how we could work together to have greater impact on the ground. We need action at the grassroots level to create trust between communities, to build accountable and inclusive institutions, to provide opportunities for young people, and to promote human rights and the rule of law.

To address these and other challenges, today’s sessions have been divided thematically and will focus on:

1. The positive synergies between the Plan of Action and the larger United Nations Prevention Agenda;
2. The importance of addressing the drivers of violent extremism;
3. The development of National Plans of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, as recommended by the Secretary General’s Plan of Action, and
4. The importance of resource mobilization to be able to carry the plans forward.

The discussions today will frame and lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s High-level Segment. The discussions will be summarized in a non-binding Co-Chairs Summary that will be presented at the concluding session.

This will also help build a common approach to preventing violent extremism as the General Assembly prepares for its consideration of the UN Plan of Action in the context of the Fifth Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in June.

Succeeding in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism is a high priority for the Secretary-General in his last year in office. And so it should be for all of us — the victims of terrorism and extremist violence deserve no less.

In conclusion, and on behalf of the Secretary-General, I express the hope for candid and constructive discussions today in preparation for the High-Level Segment tomorrow, and wish you much success in your deliberations.