What is iDove?

The iDove initiative was jointly launched by the African Union Commission’s Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organizations (AUC-CIDO) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in February 2017 to highlight the importance of the soft power of religion in preventing violent extremism (PVE) through innovative, youth-led approaches. By building on existing initiatives and supporting young people’s engagement and ideas in both Europe and Africa, iDove strives to develop non-violent approaches to problem solving that strengthen social cohesion and to create a forum for exchange and mutual learning.

The annual iDove Intercontinental Youth Forums provide a valuable platform for young activists, academics, creatives & policy makers from all over Africa and Europe to share experiences, ideas and knowledge on constructive strategies to prevent violent extremism.

What is the forum all about?

The Third Intercontinental Youth Forum will focus on the current challenge of rehabilitating and reintegrating (R&R) foreign fighters and other returnees.

Taking returnees into account when designing PVE strategies has become more and more pressing in recent years as thousands of foreign fighters have been relocating to their home communities. Foreign fighters are strongly exposed to violent extremist ideologies, with many having witnessed or actively participated in acts of violence. Some may be highly traumatized and in need of medical assistance. Others might be family members of foreign fighters or children born in war-zones. Whether actively involved in fighting and violence or not, all returnees will require assistance in addressing the drivers that led to their involvement with violent extremism as well as in (again) assuming productive roles in society.