Statement by Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on "The Role of Youth in Countering Violent Extremism and Promoting Peace" (23 April 2015)

Excellencies,

Mr. President,

Thank you for convening this important debate.

  1. Violent extremism has emerged as one of the most complex challenges of our time. It has claimed innocent lives, caused wide scale destruction, and disrupted social order as well as state structures.
  2. Its scope, nature, causes and manifestations make it a global phenomenon. And this requires a common understanding and cooperative solutions.
  3. A critical aspect of this challenge is the radicalization of youth, which often leads then to commit violent acts. But youth are also the key to building resilience against this threat. We therefore welcome Jordan’s initiative to highlight the role of youth in addressing this challenge.

Mr. President,

  1. Throughout history, youth has been the engine of change – for good or bad. The energy of youth can generate progress and prosperity; but equally it can exacerbate violence and war. It is up to states and societies to ensure that the energy and idealism of youth is directed towards promoting peace and progress rather than conflict and chaos. When young people become alienated within societies; when they perceive oppression and injustice, local or global, they become susceptible to seduction by the ideologues of extremism.
  2. The rise of violent extremism has a direct co-relation with conflicts and disputes, foreign intervention and occupation, religious, racial and ethnic discrimination or persecution as well as social and economic exclusion. Extremists use such injustices to lure youth into supporting their agenda.
  3. The radicalization of youth in certain Western States flows from social alienation, economic marginalization, as well as the growing phenomenon of Islamophobia. A major step to reverse this is legislation to prohibit insults to religions and to establish a clear distinction between free speech and hate speech.
  4. This Council, even as it considers social and economic dimensions of this phenomenon, has a vital political role to play. It must intensify its efforts to address long-standing conflicts and disputes.

Mr. President,

  1. Radicalization of youth cannot be understood, much less curbed, shorn of its political, social and economic context. Economic and political exclusion and social injustice fuels disenchantment that drives young men and women towards extremism and that, in turn, assures terrorist groups of a steady supply of recruits.
  2. We know only too well how the youth bulge in several parts of the Middle East has played a major role in the political upheavals of recent years. The interplay between demographics, lack of socio-economic opportunity and radicalization magnifies the challenge of violent extremism.
  3. When economic opportunity fails to keep pace with demographics, young people become particularly vulnerable to being attracted to extremist narratives. Social frustration and economic deprivation thus provide the breeding ground for violent extremism.
  4. So if violent extremists are to be defeated the economic empowerment of youth must be a major component of a counter radicalization strategy.
  5. Building resilience in communities and societies is necessary to evolve an effective strategy because resilience and cohesion are essential bulwarks against violent extremism. This entails enlisting the support and trust of local communities, particularly youth and women.
  6. Educational programmes as many other have emphasized, can play a vital role in fostering values of tolerance, harmony and respect for diversity among youth and determining their outlook on violence.
  7. The role of religious leaders can contribute to shaping youth attitudes and building youth resilience. They can also help to counter and de-legitimize acts of violence, regardless of justifications or motivations.

Mr. President,

  1. In Pakistan, we are pursuing a comprehensive approach that involves, in addition to law enforcement, educational, social and economic measures.
  2. Acknowledging the key importance of creating economic opportunities for youth and harnessing their potential to promote national progress, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched a Special Youth Programme last year. This is designed to provide educational and vocational support and socio-economic opportunity in the form of special schemes for young people.
  3. As part of our National Action Plan to Counter Terrorism, Pakistan has also taken other steps to curb violent extremism. This has included curbs on hate speech and material, steps against religious persecution, regulation of religious schools and measures against the use of social media for terrorism or its glorification.
  4. We support the useful work of the UN Center for Counterterrorism in this area. Next month, Pakistan is co-hosting with the Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force a Skills Development and Needs Assessment Conference in Islamabad focused on youth.
  5. The United Nations, with its expertise, on-ground experience and unique convening power, can play a leading role in developing a comprehensive strategy.
  6. Given the complexity and global dimensions of violent extremism, the General Assembly should also be enabled to play a leading role to develop a multifaceted strategy building on its resolution 68/127. We hope that the September UN Summit on this issue will provide a clear direction towards this end.

I thank you, Mr. President.