EnAbling a Model-driven deep understAnding of the roLe of gender Towards a Holistic solution against Extremism and radicalization Activities

Recent scholarship on y the gender dimension in preventing and countering violent extremism programming, still lacks thorough gender-sensitive data collection and analysis. On the one hand, empirical data and a gender-sensitive approach in counter violent extremism is needed to create lasting security. On the other hand, violent extremism concept does not have an agreed definition. The literature on Traditional Counterterrorism (TC) policy has been conducted from a gender-blind perspective, at the most adding women and “stirring” them into the existent mix, instead of meaningfully re-examining the underlying issues of gender and diversity dynamics. In this context, it is important to critically examine how the unequal socialization can lead to violence and become a driver of VE (Violent Extremism) by bringing in the feminist and intersectional perspectives into research design, data collection and analysis. A better understanding of the causes, manifestations, and mitigation practices of violent extremism is required, by critically examining the relationship between gender and extremism, investigating gender-specific factors for radicalization, such as community belonging, social connections, traumas or empowerment narratives. AMALTHEA will address the challenge of limited access to knowledge, collaboration and unified approaches against gender-related radicalisation via in-depth research and delivery of innovation in three complementary fields: (i) Knowledge creation, targeting LEAs, CSOs, social support professionals, teachers and other P/CVE practitioners; (ii) Knowledge modelling, management and sharing to improve understanding of the role of gender in VE/CVE; and (iii) Tailor-made tools for LEAs and CSOs that will enable engagement, collaboration, efficient policy making and optimised decision making towards de-radicalisation.