Xhabir Deralla, President of CIVIL, at the working meetings “Communities Against Violent Extremism” in Veles and in Gazi Baba, presented the project activities that have the goal to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the local communities against violent extremism, by forming working groups in the communities, by civic education and strengthening public awareness.

In the presence of the Mayor of the Municipality of Veles, Ace Kocevski, representatives of the police and schools, citizen activists and interested citizens, Deralla outlined that violent extremism is a global problem.

“We will form a working group in Veles that will be committed to the fight against violent extremism, radicalism and other security and safety challenges. The working group will work on preparing an event of public character at the local level, where artists, writers, activists will be invited, who through their presentation will send out a message related to the fight against violent extremism, radicalism and terrorism”, stated Deralla.

The participants at the workshop directed their focus to education and preventing violent extremism in the earliest ages and greater involvement of the social centers.

Deralla expressed belief that in this fight, the municipality will contribute with its active participation and that the mayor himself will be able to set some time aside in the activities that are needed at the local level in the fight against violent extremism.

In the Municipality of Gazi Baba, Deralla highlighted that one of the project goals is to recognize the structures in society that have a potential for radicalization.

He stressed that extremism can lead to serious consequences and to terrorism.

“I want for all of us to be part of the project that is aimed at preventing violent extremism, radicalism and terrorism at the local and national level. We will try to do this through multidisciplinary activities and processes, through citizen engagement and education, through mentoring, partnerships and all kinds of communication”, said Deralla at the working meeting in the Municipality of Gazi Baba.

The recommendation of the participants at the working meeting was to also involve the parents, who usually do not accept that their child is violent, in the need of prevention among children at the earliest ages.

Deralla emphasized that it is very important for the very municipality to have its share in the fight against violent extremism, and expressed gratitude to the mayor for presenting the plans and intentions in dealing with this problem, and their determinations, as a municipality, to face the challenges arising from this problem.

CIVIL is implementing the project “Communities Against Violent Extremism” with the support of the US Embassy in Skopje.

Biljana Jordanovska
Editing: Bunjamin Kamberi