During the meeting’s opening, which reaffirmed the commitment to combat terrorism and violent extremism through education, Ismail Chekkori, Director of Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, emphasized that this initiative stems from the strong partnership between the Kingdom and the EU. He highlighted the shared dedication of both parties to global efforts aimed at preventing and combating violent extremism through education.

Chekkori also underscored Morocco’s efforts in combating extremism and radical ideologies, aligned with the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

He further emphasized the importance of adopting a proactive approach, focusing on collaboration and strengthening partnerships to enhance educational capacities for preventing violent extremism.

The meeting followed a workshop held on April 23 and 24, 2024, which was attended by a panel of experts from various organizations and research centers, including the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence. Representatives from African countries in the Sahel region and GCTF member countries also participated in thios event.

Launched on November 23, 2023, in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism “Hedayah,” the initiative aims to identify emerging challenges, success stories, and best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism through education. The initiative was announced during the 21st meeting of the GCTF Coordination Committee in May 2023 in Cairo.