10 Ways to Support PVE Day: Preventing Violent Extremism Globally

Every year on February 12, the world observes the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism — commonly known as PVE Day. Established by the United Nations General Assembly under resolution 77/243, PVE Day brings together governments, civil society groups, religious leaders, academics, and everyday citizens to renew their commitment to building a safer, more peaceful world.

In 2026, the fourth annual commemoration of PVE Day arrives at a moment of urgency. The Global Terrorism Index 2025, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), revealed that the number of countries experiencing at least one terrorist attack rose from 58 to 66 in 2024 — the most since 2018. Meanwhile, 45 countries reported a worsening impact from terrorism, the highest single-year deterioration since 2018. These numbers tell a clear story: prevention is not optional — it is essential.

But what can individuals, communities, and organizations actually do to support PVE Day and the broader movement to prevent violent extremism? This guide breaks down 10 meaningful, research-backed ways you can make a difference — whether you are a teacher in Nairobi, a policymaker in Brussels, a student in Jakarta, or a concerned citizen anywhere on earth.

What Is PVE Day and Why Does Preventing Violent Extremism Matter in 2026?

Before diving into actionable steps, it helps to understand the roots and purpose of this day.

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, first introduced in January 2016, called for a shift in global thinking. For decades, most governments had focused almost exclusively on countering terrorism after attacks happened. The Plan urged a new approach: address the underlying conditions that push people toward radicalization in the first place. It included more than 70 recommendations for member states and the UN system.

PVE Day, first observed on February 12, 2023, grew out of that vision. It serves three purposes. First, it raises public awareness about the threat of violent extremism. Second, it highlights the work of communities, organizations, and governments already engaged in prevention. Third, it creates space for dialogue about what still needs to be done.

Why does this matter so much in 2026? Consider the following:

Source: Global Terrorism Index 2025, Institute for Economics & Peace

The Sahel region — including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — remains the global epicenter of terrorism, accounting for over half of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024. But the threat is spreading. Togo recorded its worst year for terrorism since the inception of the Index. In Europe, Sweden saw eight attacks in 2024, its highest number since 2017. Australia recorded five attacks, the most ever on its index.

These trends make one thing abundantly clear: preventing violent extremism is everyone’s responsibility, and PVE Day is a powerful moment to recommit to that mission.

1. How to Raise Awareness About Violent Extremism Through Education

Education is the foundation of prevention. UNESCO has led global efforts to integrate PVE into school curricula, teacher training, and youth programs. As the organization states on its official prevention page: “No one is born a violent extremist, but they are made and fuelled. Disarming the process of radicalization must begin with dialogue and respect.”

What does PVE education look like in practice?

It starts with Global Citizenship Education (GCED), a framework UNESCO developed to help learners of all ages build critical thinking skills, media literacy, and respect for diversity. Schools in countries from Kenya to Jordan to Pakistan are using GCED principles to create classrooms where students can safely discuss difficult topics — including extremism, identity, and belonging.

UNESCO has also published a Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism, designed to help educators understand radicalization and create inclusive classroom environments. The guide provides practical advice on when and how to discuss violent extremism with students. It also helps teachers build classroom climates where open discussion and critical thinking can thrive.

Evidence shows this approach works. A UNESCO-commissioned study with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue identified 45 positive outcomes from PVE education activities. Individuals who participated were less likely to support violence and more open-minded about gender, culture, and religion. Communities showed greater trust between government and civil society.

How you can take action:

• Teachers: Download UNESCO’s free Teacher’s Guide and adapt it to your local context. Start classroom discussions about media literacy, stereotyping, and respectful dialogue.
• Parents: Talk openly with your children about the information they consume online. Encourage questions rather than shutting them down.
• School administrators: Advocate for GCED integration in your district’s curriculum. Connect with local universities and NGOs working on peace education.
• Students: Start or join a peer education group focused on tolerance and critical thinking. Young people teaching young people is one of the most effective PVE strategies identified by researchers.

2. Why Supporting Youth Empowerment Programs Prevents Radicalization

Young people are not just vulnerable to extremism — they are also the most powerful force for preventing it. The UN Security Council recognized this in Resolution 2250 (2015), which acknowledged youth as key agents of peace and security rather than merely potential threats.

The urgency of youth engagement has never been greater. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 reported that in 2024, several Western countries found that one in five terrorism suspects was under 18 years old. In Europe, teenagers accounted for most IS-linked arrests. Online radicalization now happens in days or even hours, according to The Soufan Center, fueled by algorithm-driven social media platforms that channel young users toward increasingly extreme content.

Cecilia Polizzi, Founding President of Next Wave, The International Center for Children and Global Security, wrote in the GTI 2025 report that effective prevention requires “education, digital literacy, psychological support, and community engagement” to stop the next generation of extremists from being shaped by online networks and AI-driven propaganda.

What does meaningful youth empowerment look like?

The UNDP has invested heavily in youth-centered PVE programming across Central Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In Kazakhstan, a paid internship program for socially vulnerable youth in the Kyzylorda and Mangystau regions has helped 240 young people find employment. In Turkmenistan, an online course under the “Promoting Resilient Communities to PVE in Central Asia” project enhances both digital resilience and job skills.

UNICRI (the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute) works with ten civil society organizations worldwide through the Global Sports Programme, using sports-based activities to engage youth in PVE efforts. As UNICRI notes, youth involvement in shaping policies is “not merely symbolic; it is necessary for sustainable and effective solutions.”

How you can take action:

• Donate or volunteer with organizations running youth mentorship, employment, and leadership programs in at-risk communities.
• Employers: Create internship or apprenticeship opportunities for marginalized young people. Economic opportunity is one of the strongest shields against radicalization.
• Youth leaders: Apply for fellowships and grants through UNOCT, UNDP, or local civil society organizations. Your voice matters in shaping policy.
• Community members: Mentor a young person. Sometimes, a single positive relationship can be the difference between hope and despair.

3. Strengthening Digital Literacy to Combat Online Radicalization and Extremism

The internet has fundamentally changed how radicalization happens. Social media platforms like TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook enable extremists to reach young audiences faster than ever. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement often amplify polarizing content, creating echo chambers where radical views become normalized.

A 2025 GNET Insight paper published by the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism observed that “in today’s digital ecosystem, radicalization no longer takes root in ideological echo chambers but permeates into the speech, humour, and emotional syntax of youth culture.” The paper argues that algorithmic literacy may be the key missing element in current prevention efforts.

What is digital literacy in the PVE context?

It goes beyond simply knowing how to use a computer. PVE-focused digital literacy means teaching people — especially young people — to critically evaluate online information, recognize manipulative content, understand how algorithms shape what they see, and identify when they are being targeted by extremist narratives.

The U.S. National Institute of Justice has emphasized that certain individual factors — including awareness of what constitutes hateful content and risky internet behaviors — directly affect how vulnerable someone is to online radicalization. This means that education in digital literacy is not just helpful; it is protective.

Promising approaches include:

• Media Information Literacy (MIL) clubs, like those run in Jordan through the Al Qantara Center, where students and teachers learn debating skills and develop awareness of stereotyping.
• The “Redirect Method”, a pilot initiative that uses search queries to guide vulnerable young people to citizen testimonies, on-the-ground reports, and religious debates that counter extremist narratives — using existing YouTube content rather than government-produced material.
• UNESCO’s #ThinkBeforeSharing campaign, launched in Kyrgyzstan to combat hate speech, misinformation, and promote responsible digital behavior.
• Indonesia’s “Sofyan Tsauri Channel”, where a former extremist uses YouTube to share counter-narratives rooted in his personal experience of radicalization and deradicalization. Research published in Frontiers in Communication found that such “former” voices carry unique credibility.

How you can take action:

• Teach your family to question what they see online. Ask: “Who made this? Why? What do they want me to feel?”
• Share resources from UNESCO’s MIL toolkit with your local school or community center.
• Report extremist content on social media platforms when you see it. Most platforms have specific tools for flagging terrorist or violent content.
• Support organizations like the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) that develop technology and research to reduce terrorist exploitation of digital platforms.

4. The Role of Women in Preventing Violent Extremism and Building Peace

Across every region affected by violent extremism, women are both disproportionately impacted and uniquely positioned to prevent it. As UN Women states: “The Global Terrorism Index 2025 identifies terrorism as a persistent threat” and notes that UN Security Council resolution 2242 (2015) outlines the “differential impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism on women and girls.”

Violent extremist groups almost always target women’s rights first. Alt-right groups enforce rigid gender roles. Jihadist organizations use sexual and gender-based violence as a strategic weapon. In Mali, Ansar Dine’s creation of an “Islamic court” to punish women has been characterized by the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor as gender-based persecution.

But women are not just victims. They are frontline peacebuilders. UN Women’s Asia-Pacific office documents how women contribute to PVE in multiple ways: shaping community and family values, identifying early signs of radicalization, serving as female imams who preach religious tolerance, using media to promote counter-narratives, and working as community police officers who build trust with local populations.

Real-world examples of women-led PVE efforts:

• In Indonesia, the UNDP-supported PROTECT project has integrated gender-based approaches into national counter-extremism policies. Women ulama (clerics) provide alternative religious narratives that promote tolerance.
• In Iraq, UNDP facilitated the first gathering of women faith-based peacebuilders from over seven faith backgrounds to develop recommendations for dialogue and social cohesion.
• In Mali, a 2025 UNODC workshop brought together 22 representatives — including 17 women — from government ministries and civil society to strengthen female community leaders’ role in countering radicalization.
• In Morocco, UNDP and the Mohammed VI Foundation support women returnees or families of those convicted under anti-terrorism laws, helping them gain economic independence through skills training.
• In Norway, minority community police officers regularly bring together minority women to discuss violent extremism, gender equality, and civic rights. This trust-building approach has been credited with stopping several young men from further radicalization.

How you can take action:

• Amplify women’s voices in security discussions. If you attend community meetings, town halls, or PVE events, advocate for women’s inclusion at every level.
• Support women-led organizations working at the grassroots level on peacebuilding and deradicalization.
• Challenge gender stereotypes in your own community. Gender equality is itself a counter-measure to extremism, since virtually all extremist ideologies rely on strict, harmful gender hierarchies.

5. How Community Dialogue and Interfaith Cooperation Reduce Violent Extremism

Violent extremism thrives in divided communities. It exploits feelings of exclusion, grievance, and suspicion between groups. That is why community-level dialogue — particularly between people of different faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds — is one of the most effective tools for prevention.

The UNDP emphasizes that “preventing violent extremism needs strong collaboration between local governments and communities.” The organization helps local authorities develop plans based on risk assessments and community needs, and supports dialogue between groups to build trust and resilience.

Religious leaders play a particularly important role. In Somalia, UNDP has supported a network of religious scholars in 16 districts because of their trusted role in peacebuilding and mediating local conflicts. These scholars promote peaceful messages of Islam, using consensus-building and inclusive dialogue across political divides.

In Uzbekistan, a UNDP behavioral science experiment found that female role models, religious leaders, and community leaders can shift attitudes toward women — including attitudes about women’s right to work and participate in politics. Shifting these attitudes is directly relevant to PVE, since rigid gender norms are frequently exploited by extremist recruiters.

The “whole-of-society” approach is key. Kenya’s Ministry of Education has adopted a “whole school approach” in which teachers, parents, and communities are all involved at different levels in preventing radicalization. This model ensures that prevention is not isolated to one institution or one conversation — it becomes part of the fabric of daily life.

How you can take action:

• Organize or attend interfaith dialogue events in your community. If none exist, reach out to local religious institutions to start one.
• Invite diverse speakers to schools, community centers, and workplaces. Exposure to different perspectives builds the empathy and understanding that extremist narratives seek to destroy.
• Listen. Sometimes the most powerful act of prevention is simply listening to someone who feels unheard. Many people who are drawn to extremism are searching for a sense of belonging. Community can provide that before extremist groups do.
• Support local conflict mediation efforts. Many communities already have informal systems for resolving disputes. Strengthening these systems — and connecting them with formal PVE resources — creates an early warning network that can catch radicalization before it escalates.
• Create safe spaces for difficult conversations. Libraries, community centers, places of worship, and schools can all serve as venues where people feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics. The key is trained facilitation: moderators who can guide discussions without shutting down dissent or allowing hate speech to go unchallenged.

6. Supporting National Action Plans to Prevent Violent Extremism Across Countries

Prevention works best when it is organized, funded, and sustained at the national level. The UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action called on every member state to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) for preventing violent extremism. These plans are meant to translate global commitments into locally relevant strategies.

A NAP typically addresses several key areas: education and skills development, youth engagement, gender equality, community policing, digital literacy, prison management, and economic opportunity. The best NAPs are developed through consultation with civil society, religious leaders, women’s groups, and youth organizations — not just security agencies.

Tajikistan, for example, presented its “National Strategy on Countering Terrorism and Extremism (2021–2025)” at a side event during PVE Day 2025, highlighting its approach to combining security measures with social development. The Philippines has integrated specific roles for women in its NAP, including involvement in curriculum development, prison management, and disarmament.

UNOCT (the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism) provides technical assistance to help countries design and implement these plans. Through the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, the UN supports collaboration among its entities to streamline efforts and deliver coordinated support.

How you can take action:

• Research your country’s NAP (or lack of one). If your country has a plan, read it and identify areas where civil society is invited to contribute.
• Advocate for your government to develop or update its NAP if one does not exist. Write to elected officials. Join coalitions pushing for comprehensive prevention strategies.
• Hold your government accountable. Plans without funding, implementation, or monitoring are just paper. Demand transparency and results.
• Connect with local civil society organizations that are part of the NAP consultation process. These groups often need volunteers, researchers, and public supporters to amplify their advocacy.
• Share best practices internationally. If your country has an effective NAP, share that story with networks in other countries. The UN encourages South-South cooperation — learning between developing nations — as a key strategy for spreading successful PVE models.

7. Using Sport as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism in Local Communities

Sport has a unique ability to break down barriers. It teaches teamwork, respect, fairness, and cooperation — the exact values that extremist ideologies try to destroy. The UNOCT’s Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism leverages the universal appeal of sport to build resilience and social cohesion in communities around the world.

The program works on multiple levels. It develops guides for policymakers on integrating sport into national PVE strategies. It creates resources for sporting event organizers. It offers an e-learning course for practitioners, local authorities, sports federations, athletes, youth leaders, and researchers.

UNICRI works closely with ten civil society organizations globally, selected through the programme’s grant initiative, to implement sports-based PVE activities with youth as primary beneficiaries. These organizations operate in some of the most conflict-affected regions on earth.

A Gender Responsive Approach for Sports-for-PVE Programming addendum has also been developed, recognizing that women and girls must be equally included in sport-based prevention efforts.

How you can take action:

• Coach or volunteer at a local youth sports program, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
• Organize inter-community tournaments that bring together young people from different backgrounds. Use post-game discussions to explore themes of respect and fair play.
• Advocate for funding for sport-based PVE programming in your area. Contact local government, schools, and sports federations.

8. How to Fight Online Hate Speech and Disinformation That Fuels Extremism

Hate speech and disinformation are the fuel that violent extremism runs on. Extremist groups deliberately spread false narratives — about other religions, ethnic groups, governments, or entire civilizations — to manufacture anger, fear, and division.

The link between hate speech and violence is well-documented. UNESCO has developed extensive materials on addressing hate speech, anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories, and discrimination. The organization’s #ThinkBeforeSharing campaign, deployed in multiple countries including Kyrgyzstan, encourages responsible digital behavior and helps people recognize when they are being manipulated.

The challenge is immense. Extremist groups are now using artificial intelligence to create personalized recruitment campaigns, manufacture synthetic content, and establish echo chambers at unprecedented speed. A 2025 study published in Frontiers in Political Science warned that “current legal structures remain fundamentally inadequate to address borderless, rapidly evolving threats” driven by AI.

What can be done?

The answer involves both systemic change and individual responsibility. Technology companies must refine algorithms to stop amplifying extreme content, increase transparency in recommendation systems, and invest in proactive content moderation. Governments need to develop regulatory frameworks that balance prevention with freedom of expression. And individuals need to be active, critical consumers of information.

How you can take action:

• Do not share content you have not verified. This is the single most powerful thing any individual can do to slow the spread of disinformation.
• Report hate speech and extremist content on every platform where you encounter it.
• Support independent journalism and fact-checking organizations. They are the front line against the disinformation that fuels extremism.
• Talk to your children about what they see online. The U.S. National Institute of Justice emphasizes that developing targeted educational strategies for youth is “of the utmost importance.”

9. Why Investing in Economic Opportunity Is Key to Preventing Radicalization

Poverty does not automatically cause extremism. But poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity create conditions where extremist narratives find fertile ground. When young people cannot find work, when communities feel abandoned by their governments, and when entire regions are trapped in cycles of deprivation, extremist groups step into the vacuum with offers of money, purpose, and belonging.

The UNDP frames its PVE approach through this lens: “Preventing violent extremism starts by addressing its root causes — poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity.” The organization emphasizes that “extremism thrives where people feel excluded, unheard, or hopeless.”

In the Sahel — the region that accounts for over half of all global terrorism deaths — the links between economic marginalization and extremist recruitment are starkly visible. Weak governance, ethnic tensions, and environmental degradation have created conditions that jihadist groups exploit relentlessly. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 noted that Niger recorded a 94% rise in terrorism deaths in 2024, the largest increase worldwide, reversing previous improvements.

The UNDP’s “Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor” project strengthens community resilience in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo — recognizing that the threat is spreading beyond traditional hotspots into coastal West Africa.

At the individual level, programs that provide vocational training, microfinance, and employment pathways for at-risk youth are among the most effective PVE interventions. In Morocco, social workers help women affected by terrorism-related convictions learn new skills so they can achieve economic independence and rebuild their lives.

The link between unemployment and radicalization is well-documented but nuanced. Not every unemployed person becomes an extremist, and not every extremist was economically deprived. But when entire communities face structural unemployment — when young graduates see no future despite their education — that collective frustration becomes a tool that extremist recruiters exploit with devastating effectiveness. The promise of a salary, a sense of purpose, and a community can be powerful recruiting mechanisms for groups like ISIL and Boko Haram. Addressing these root conditions through sustainable economic development is not a soft option. It is a strategic necessity.

How you can take action:

• Support fair trade and ethical businesses that operate in conflict-affected regions. Economic development in these areas directly reduces vulnerability to extremist recruitment.
• Donate to organizations providing vocational training and employment support in at-risk communities.
• Advocate for development aid that prioritizes the regions most affected by terrorism. Prevention through development is far cheaper than military intervention after the fact.

10. How Sharing Survivor Stories and Victim Testimonies Builds Resilience Against Extremism

Some of the most powerful counter-narratives against violent extremism come from the people who have lived through it. Survivors of terrorist attacks, families of victims, and former extremists who have renounced violence all carry stories that can reach people in ways that policy documents never will.

The UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism and annual observances such as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (August 21) provide platforms for these voices. But survivor stories need to be heard not just on memorial days — they need to be woven into education, media, and community programming year-round.

In Indonesia, Sofyan Tsauri, a former police officer who was radicalized and convicted for terrorism-related offenses, now runs a YouTube channel sharing counter-narratives based on his personal journey. Research in Frontiers in Communication highlighted how “formers” like Sofyan carry a unique credibility that government messaging simply cannot replicate. His story reaches people who might otherwise dismiss official anti-extremism campaigns.

In Southeast Asia, activists from Mindanao to Sri Lanka share personal testimonies that follow three tracks, as described by researcher Primitivo III Cabanes Rangadang: condemning violent attacks, highlighting issues that cause alienation, and promoting positive values like cooperation and empathy.

Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, founder of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, has called for treating extremism like a virus — using a public health approach where prevention is treated as inoculation. Survivor stories and former-extremist testimonies are a critical part of that inoculation.

How you can take action:

• Listen to and share survivor stories from reputable organizations. Amplify these voices on your social media channels.
• Invite survivors or former extremists to speak at schools, community events, and workplaces. Their firsthand accounts are among the most effective tools for building empathy and resilience.
• Support organizations that provide psychological, financial, and social support to victims of terrorism and their families.
• Remember the victims. Attend local memorial events. Light a candle. Write a letter. The simple act of remembrance affirms our collective humanity against the dehumanization that extremism demands.

A Quick-Reference Guide: 10 Actions for PVE Day 2026

How to Get Involved on International PVE Day: February 12, 2026

The fourth annual PVE Day is an opportunity for everyone — not just governments and international organizations — to take a stand against violent extremism. Here are concrete ways to participate:

Use the hashtag #PVEDay on all social media platforms to join the global conversation. Share facts, stories, and resources. Follow the UNOCT’s official PVE Day page for event updates and downloadable assets.

Host a local event. This can be as simple as a community discussion at a library, a screening of a documentary about peacebuilding, or a panel discussion at a university. The point is to create space for conversation.

Write to your elected representatives. Ask them what your country is doing to prevent violent extremism. Ask about funding for education, youth programs, and community-based prevention. Ask about your country’s National Action Plan.

Educate yourself. Read the Global Terrorism Index 2025. Explore the UNDP’s PVE resources. Visit UNESCO’s PVE education page. Knowledge is the foundation of effective action.

Donate. Even small contributions to organizations like UNICRI, UNDP, UN Women, or local civil society groups working on PVE can make a real difference. Many of the most effective prevention programs operate on shoestring budgets.

The Future of Preventing Violent Extremism: Challenges and Hope Beyond 2026

The threat landscape is evolving rapidly. AI-driven propaganda, encrypted messaging platforms, and the ideological fragmentation of extremist movements all present new challenges. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 warned that 93% of fatal terrorist attacks in the West over the past five years were carried out by lone wolf actors — individuals who are often radicalized quickly and act with little warning.

At the same time, there are powerful reasons for hope. Deaths from terrorism globally are still 59% lower than their peak in 2014. Education programs are reaching millions of young people. Women are being recognized as essential actors in prevention. Digital literacy campaigns are being deployed in dozens of countries. Sport-based programs are building bridges in some of the world’s most divided communities.

The Pact for the Future, adopted at the September 2024 Summit of the Future, alongside the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, reaffirms that effective prevention requires addressing root causes, strengthening community resilience, and promoting human rights through whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches.

As UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov stated on PVE Day 2025: “Preventing violent extremism involves strengthening communities, addressing grievances, empowering women and youth, investing in education, and ensuring inclusive development for all. It demands that we challenge hatred, misinformation, and the forces that seek to divide us.”

That work does not belong to the United Nations alone. It belongs to all of us. It belongs to the teacher who creates a safe space for difficult conversations. The mother who notices a change in her son’s behavior and reaches out for help. The former extremist who shares his story so others do not follow the same path. The volunteer who coaches a neighborhood football team. The citizen who reports hate speech rather than scrolling past it.

PVE Day is one day. But prevention is every day. And every one of us has a role to play.

Frequently Asked Questions About PVE Day and Preventing Violent Extremism

What does PVE stand for? PVE stands for Preventing Violent Extremism. The full name of the international day is the “International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism.”

When is PVE Day 2026? PVE Day 2026 falls on Thursday, February 12, 2026. It is observed annually on February 12.

Who created PVE Day? The United Nations General Assembly declared February 12 as the International Day for PVE under resolution 77/243. The first observance was in 2023.

What is the difference between PVE and CVE? PVE (Preventing Violent Extremism) focuses on addressing the conditions that lead to radicalization before it happens — through education, economic opportunity, community dialogue, and inclusion. CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) focuses on interventions after radicalization has occurred, including deradicalization programs and disrupting active networks. Both are important; PVE emphasizes upstream prevention.

Can individuals really make a difference in preventing violent extremism? Absolutely. Many of the most effective PVE interventions happen at the community and individual level. Teaching digital literacy to a child, mentoring a young person, reporting hate speech, supporting a local dialogue group — these actions build the resilience that keeps communities safe.

Where can I find more resources about PVE? Start with the UNOCT official website, UNESCO’s PVE education page, and the UNDP’s PVE stories page. The Global Terrorism Index provides annual data and analysis.