Addis Ababa, February 26, 2024(Addis Walta) A high-level IGAD regional Legislators meeting is deliberating on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The three-day regional meeting brought together legislators from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda, it was learned.
This regional meeting would provide a platform for the legislators to advance conversations on ensuring gender equality and push for gender-sensitive P/CVE legislation.
It is also anticipated to provide a platform to officially launch the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional network of legislators.
It is believed that one of the areas that violent extremists have taken advantage of to thrive in the absence of strong legislation inferring the violent extremism and terrorism threat.
In this case, the IGAD Regional Strategy for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism seeks to address national and regional capacity gaps including the absence of strong legislation also characterized by a lack of inclusivity.
Moreover, the IGAD strategy demands strengthening regional capacity for preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and introducing inclusive legislation to address violent extremism.
Particularly, the legislation requires bringing together Members of Parliaments (MPs) from the IGAD region to discuss the legal frameworks that can be put in place to support the region in fighting Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
As a result, through its Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE), IGAD has identified legislators as key actors in P/CVE, it was indicated.