Morocco, EU co-chair meeting on combating terrorism through education

Morocco and the European Union (EU) co-chaired a working meeting on Thursday in Brussels on combating terrorism through education. The meeting, part of the initiative of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), was held under the theme “Education for the prevention and fight against violent extremism leading to terrorism.”

During the meeting’s opening, which reaffirmed the commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism through education, Ismail Chekkori, Director of Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this initiative stems from the strong partnership between the Kingdom and the EU. He highlighted the shared dedication of both parties to global efforts aimed at preventing and combating violent extremism through education.

Chekkori also underscored Morocco’s efforts and proactive approach in combating extremism and radical ideologies, which focus on promoting collaboration and strengthening partnerships to enhance educational capacities for preventing violent extremism.

The meeting followed a workshop held on April 23-24, which was attended by a panel of experts from various organizations and research centers, including the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence. Representatives from African Sahel countries and GCTF member countries participated in this event.

Launched on November 23, 2023, in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism “Hedayah,” the initiative aims to identify emerging challenges, success stories, and best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism through education. The initiative was announced during the 21st meeting of the GCTF Coordination Committee in May 2023 in Cairo.