Addis Ababa – A high-level meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional legislators is currently taking place in Ethiopia’s capital, focusing on the prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE) with a gender-sensitive approach. The three-day assembly aims to foster discussions on enhancing gender equality within P/CVE legislations among member countries.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the meeting has drawn participants from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. It seeks to serve as a platform for legislators to progress dialogues on gender-sensitive P/CVE legislation and to inaugurate the IGAD regional network of legislators officially. The initiative addresses the exploitation of legislative voids by violent extremists, emphasizing the need for robust and inclusive laws to combat terrorism and extremism threats effectively.

The IGAD Regional Strategy for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism highlights the necessity of addressing both national and regional capacity shortcomings, including the enhancement of legislative frameworks. The strategy underscores the importance of inclusive legislation to combat violent extremism and the critical role of Member of Parliaments (MPs) from the IGAD region in discussing and establishing legal measures to support the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

Through its Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE), IGAD has recognized legislators as pivotal in the P/CVE efforts, signaling a collaborative approach towards establishing a safer and more secure region through gender-sensitive legislative reforms.