This publication summarizes the recommendations advanced by participants of the GCTF-OSCE International Workshop on “Supporting Civil Society Initiatives to Empower Women’s Roles in Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism” held in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2014. It compiles 60 recommendations organized into 12 thematic categories, covering key areas where women’s participation and gender-sensitive approaches can strengthen efforts to counter VERLT.
The categories include: (1) guiding considerations; (2) building local ownership and partnerships with women’s organizations; (3) capacity-building to advance women’s roles in countering VERLT; (4) ensuring women’s safety and security in countering VERLT; (5) engaging women in families and communities to counter VERLT; (6) engaging women through education and within educational institutions to counter VERLT; (7) supporting victims of terrorism and engaging them in countering VERLT; (8) including women and mainstreaming gender in the design, implementation and evaluation of measures to counter VERLT; (9) increasing the participation of women and gender mainstreaming in security sectors bodies involved in countering VERLT; (10) engaging women in countering VERLT through community-oriented policing; (11) women, media and strategic communication to counter VERLT; and (12) addressing female terrorist radicalization and recruitment. Together, these recommendations provide a comprehensive framework for enhancing gender-responsive approaches to countering VERLT.