UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
On the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism, the UNESCO Chair, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Society at the College of Arts, University of Kufa, held an in-person scientific symposium titled “Violent Extremism and the Threat of Terrorism: Between UN Resolutions and the International Community” on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
The symposium focused on the concepts of violent extremism leading to terrorism and the historical roots of this phenomenon. Additionally, discussions were held on effective strategies adopted by the United Nations and UNESCO to combat extremism and the means of implementing them at the international level.
The symposium included three research papers:
•Dr. Zainab Al-Rikabi, from the UNESCO Chair, presented a paper defining the concept of violent extremism from a UN perspective, highlighting key UN resolutions addressing extremism and the main challenges associated with them.
•Dr. Raed Abis, from the College of Arts, discussed the United Nations’ strategies for combating extremism and ways to implement them on the ground.
•Dr. Hisham Al-Sayyab, also from the College of Arts, addressed societal approaches to countering this phenomenon and the major obstacles faced in this regard.
The symposium was moderated by Dr. Kazem Ouda and was attended by Dr. Majid Hamid Al-Hadraoui, Dean of the College of Arts; Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa; and Dr. Ahmed Anouz, Head of the Department of Civil Society.
At the end of the symposium, a discussion session was opened, allowing university professors and students to participate in critical debates. The speakers were honored with certificates of appreciation from the UNESCO Chair.
This symposium is part of the ongoing efforts of the UNESCO Chair to raise societal awareness, educate students and researchers about the risks associated with extremism and terrorism, and emphasize the importance of collective cooperation in addressing these challenges.
