With Violent Extremism Prolonging Conflicts Worldwide, Secretary-General Urges Ministers to Foster Inclusive Political Solutions to End Cycle of Violence

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the ministerial side event on “building resilience:  mobilizing political action for positive approaches in prevention of violent extremism”, held in New York 22‑23 September:

Your Excellency Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Belgium,

Excellencies,

Distinguished panellists,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I welcome today’s timely discussion.  Violent extremism is a direct assault on the United Nations Charter.  It is one of the most serious threats to our efforts to maintain peace and security, promote sustainable development, protect human rights and deliver humanitarian assistance.

Earlier this year, I presented a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism to the General Assembly setting out a constructive approach for addressing the drivers of violent extremism.  The plan focuses heavily on fostering inclusive political solutions in order to escape the vicious cycle of protracted conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism.

Violent extremism makes prolonged conflicts in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Mali and elsewhere even more intractable.  It feeds off governance failures and deep-rooted grievances and off misguided responses that neglect human rights and end up fuelling the problem.  My plan is a call to unity and action.   The United Nations is strengthening the support we offer to Member States, including through a new system-wide Action Group.  Let us continue to stand together against this threat.