Preventing Violent Extremism through Education

This United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) video illustrates the importance of preventing violent extremism through education. It is based on excerpts from "My Former Life", produced by the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, based on testimonies of people once engaged in promoting or perpetrating extreme violence. The video also draws attention to some of the drivers of violent extremism, to the role of education in preventing violent extremism, and to educational approaches recommended by UNESCO. For example, education can redress some of the inequalities that fuel violent extremism and can help learners make informed decisions and engage responsibly. This relies on:

• inclusion for students to develop a sense of belonging and respect for diversity;
• resilience to build students' capacities to overcome hardships and challenges;
• safety and well-being in schools;
• procedures to appropriately respond to the needs of persons at risk; and
• partnerships between educational institutions and the community at large.