This Thursday, dozens of imams from Guinea-Bissau began training on preventing violent extremism as part of the Peace Observatory project, which aims to monitor and provide early warning of situations of radicalism in the country.
“The lack of knowledge about the phenomenon of radicalism and violent extremism is a potential risk factor for its spread in the country,” said Augusto Mario da Silva, President of the Guinean League for Human Rights.
“Hence the need to provide society, especially religious leaders, with the tools to successfully counter the spread of retrograde ideological or religious currents that attack the values of tolerance and healthy coexistence among Guineans,” stressed the president of the Guinean League for Human Rights. .
The Peace Observatory project, co-funded by the European Union and the Camões Institute and implemented by the Human Rights League of Guinea and the Marquis Valle Flor Institute, aims to monitor and provide early warning of situations or signs of violent extremism in Guinea-Bissau. , in synergy between civil society organizations, traditional authorities and Guinean state entities.
“In a multicultural society where the education system continues to face structural challenges, preventive action aimed at increasing knowledge about the problem of radicalism and violent extremism is necessary to strengthen peace and social cohesion,” stressed Augusto Mario Silva.
Pedro Saraiva, Head of European Union Policy in Bissau, stressed that “there can be no sustainable development without peace and security”, and recalled a study prepared by the organization, which concluded that there are “some risk factors” and recommended “raising public awareness of dangers associated with extremism.
“It is in line with these recommendations that the training that we intend to make a decisive contribution to the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism in Guinea-Bissau is being carried out,” said Pedro Saraiva.
The head of the political section of the European Union in Bissau stressed that the Sahel region “suffers from growing instability, which exacerbates certain weaknesses.”
“This situation has gone beyond the Sahel, and today we are witnessing a multifaceted regional situation with economic, social, political and human aspects, which extends, in particular, to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger,” he stressed.
Pedro Saraiva also said that the situation affects countries in the coastal zone of West Africa, where Guinea-Bissau is located, which are “at risk of conflict, which must be carefully monitored.”
In this sense, the official recalled that this concern was also expressed by the heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States, who gathered last Sunday in Bissau.
The training, which has already taken place for members of the Catholic Church and is due to also take place for members of the Evangelical Church, includes 40 imams and ends on Tuesday.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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