Expert Meeting on the Role for Sports, Arts and Cultural Programs in CVE (UAE)

The workshop included a wide range of participants, from Ministry representatives to schoolteachers opened up a forum of rich conversations on the integration of such components in education and on ways in which sports, arts and culture can deliver a CVE message.
The meeting looked closely at two approaches to the topic: first, the participation in sports, arts and cultural activities as a means of diverting youth from violent extremist activities and second, the use of such activities as a medium for narratives that challenge and delegitimize extremist narratives and groups.
The discussions at the roundtable were useful in learning about good practices that can inform and spread CVE policy and practice, help identify potential opportunities for further engagement and develop a practitioner network with a mutual interest in these issues.
SAC have proven to be very effective in promoting social cohesion and preventing conflict, which is why one of the deliverables of the meeting included a list of programs that can be implemented on the ground that integrate SAC to CVE activities.
The practices and the insights emerged from this meeting will provide an important basis for strengthening and developing CVE programs and creating opportunities to draw more extensively on local and regional cultures and traditions to offer more organic and resonant CVE counter-narratives.
Throughout the two days, participants had time for expert presentations followed by interactive discussions where everyone had a chance to give insights on the lessons learnt and inform other participants about CVE engagement in their own practices and experiences.
Thinking Outside the Box: Exploring the Critical Roles of Sports, Arts and Culture in Preventing Violent Extremism