The co-founder of PAIMAN Alumni Trust argues that women may take up violent extremism or reject it, and that only when women become active agents in society (rather than passive) can peaceful sustainable solutions to violent extremism be found. In addition, she finds that despite expectations to the contrary in conservative and patriarchal societies, women play active roles as policy shapers, educators, religious political leaders, community members and activists in countering and preventing violent extremism. The report gives examples of women-centered PCVE efforts, including livelihood training integrated with awareness raising and capacity building in PCVE; and the development of a peace-oriented curricula for teachers in all settings. The report also finds that women need on-going support and confidence building measures to ensure the sustainability and impact of women-centered PCVE approaches. They recommend that governments and local authorities should do more to engage with women’s based organizations. They conclude that when women are encouraged to think and act within and beyond their traditional roles they can have a positive and meaningful impact on the outcomes and implementation of PCVE.
2018