UAE-UK task force to thwart extremism
Boris Johnson and Abdullah commit to continued support for Hedayah’s efforts
The UAE and the United Kingdom have launched a task force to help prevent violent extremism.
The new partnership initiative was launched on Wednesday, said the British government in a statement yesterday.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, committed to a continued partnership and support for Hedayah, the Abu Dhabi-based International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
At the signing ceremony for the joint Declaration of Intent, Johnson said: “Violent extremism is a global problem that requires global leadership and local partnerships. The UK has a close friend and partner in the UAE, and I am grateful to the Emirati government for their continued leadership and commitment as together we tackle the scourge of extremism.”
The UK-UAE support for Hedayah will help governments develop and implement comprehensive national action plans to prevent violent extremism and support a range of practical programmes, including community policing and addressing the global threat posed by returning foreign terrorist fighters.
The UK and the UAE have served as the co-chairs of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum working group on Countering Violent Extremism since 2011. Hedayah acts as the operational arm of this working group. Since its establishment in Abu Dhabi in December 2012, Hedayah has grown into a leading organisation in countering violent extremism. The UK has committed around $1.4 million to support Hedayah’s programmes in 2016-17.