Morocco and the European Union (EU) launched, on the occasion of the 21st meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, on May 4, 2023 in Cairo, an initiative on “Education for the Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism”, in partnership with the Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism “Hedayah”.

In a video introducing this initiative, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, highlighted the role of education as a powerful tool to prevent and counter radicalism and violent extremism, and to eradicate extremist ideologies that develop in precarious environments.

Mr. Bourita said that access to education allows individuals to develop the skills necessary to challenge extremist narratives and ideologies, and promote peace.

He added that this initiative reflects the privileged partnership and common commitment between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union for the promotion of peace, security and development.

For his part, Mr. Josep Borell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stressed that this initiative will contribute to developing more tolerant and resilient societies against terrorism and violent extremism.

As part of this two-year initiative (2023-2025), customized Training of Trainers (ToT) programs will be designed and delivered to educators to build learners’ resilience to violent extremism.

A series of indicators will also be developed and implemented to assist and support government efforts to monitor and evaluate programs and policies to prevent and combat violent extremism in the educational space.

It should be noted that Morocco handed over, at the beginning of the meeting, the presidency of the Forum to Egypt, after the Kingdom has assumed this position for three consecutive terms, jointly with the Netherlands during the period between 2015 and 2019, with Canada between 2019 and 2022, and with the European Union since September 2022.

Egypt will chair the Forum until 2025 jointly with the European Union.

During its chairmanship of the Forum, Morocco has assumed coordination tasks and played a pioneering and effective role in promoting a collective approach within this mechanism.

Morocco’s approach to managing the work of the Forum has also been characterized by a spirit of cooperation, teamwork, efficiency, and a firm commitment to the principles of international solidarity and cooperation, in accordance with the High Directions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s pioneering role as a responsible and effective actor in international multilateral action.

In this respect, Morocco has expressed its firm commitment to defend the priorities of the African continent in the framework of the work of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, in order to provide innovative, adaptable and dynamic responses to the challenges of security and stability in the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.