Peace Council strengthens women’s role in preventing violent extremism

The National Peace Council (NPC) has bolstered the skills of 60 women in Kansogo, Bawku West District, to identify, confront, and combat violent extremist narratives as part of efforts to curb their infiltration into vulnerable communities. This two-day training, aimed at women, especially young social media users, is a component of the "Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor" project, funded by Denmark and Norway via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

NPC's Upper East Regional Executive Secretary, Mr Damien Asobayire, emphasized women's pivotal role in combating violent extremism due to their familial and community influence. He stated that the Council recognized the necessity to provide specialized training, particularly for young women, to empower them to detect extremist messaging and counter it with peaceful rhetoric.

Facilitating a session on conflict analysis and alternative counter-narratives was Mr David Atualing Angaamba, the Upper East Regional Principal Programme Manager at the NPC. He underscored the unique perspectives women bring to peacebuilding, given their roles as primary caregivers in many societies. He argued that women could leverage their positions to preemptively identify and neutralize harmful narratives before they gain traction in communities.

The training's participants echoed gratitude for the knowledge imparted, noting its practical application in safeguarding their communities. Ms Gloria Ndeogo highlighted the training's focus on recognizing dangerous social media messages and resisting their spread. Ms Martha Abugri affirmed the training's demonstration of women's vital role in peace promotion and violent extremism prevention, emphasizing women's newfound capacity to counter harmful narratives and foster unity.