LocationsPeople countering violent extremism one day at a time, one connection at a time
Digital defenders
February 11, 2026
In Ghana, UNDP has trained journalists, bloggers, and community leaders to identify and prevent hate speech, verify information, apply conflict-sensitive reporting and to responsibly use AI.
Photo: UNDP Ghana
Every day, people around the world work courageously to protect their communities from the harms of violent extremism, often by confronting something less visible, but equally dangerous: misinformation.
On 12 February, the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism (PVE Day), the world pauses to honour these efforts and recommit to building peaceful and resilient societies for future generations.
This year’s observance comes at a critical moment.
Digital technologies, from Artificial intelligence (AI) to online gaming spaces and algorithm-driven social platforms, are reshaping how people access information, form identities and seek belonging.
While these tools hold great promise for accelerating development and inclusion, they can also be exploited to spread hate, manipulate perceptions and spread false narratives.
In today’s digital landscape, misinformation can travel faster and reach farther than ever before, deepening grievances, eroding trust and creating fertile ground for violent extremist recruitment.
Preventing violent extremism in the digital age requires more than security responses. It demands proactive efforts to counter disinformation, strengthen digital literacy, and to protect the integrity of information ecosystems, especially at the community level.
UNDP and partners across the UN system, governments, civil society, the media and local communities are working together to ensure that technology becomes a force for good: strengthening peace, empowering youth and women and protecting human rights.
Youth at the forefront of prevention
Young people, often searching for identity, opportunity and connection are particularly targeted by extremist narratives online. Yet they are also among the most powerful agents of positive change.
In northern Côte d’Ivoire, youth leaders like Ouattara Assad use local radio programmes to inspire cooperation and to discourage the spread of rumours and misinformation within their communities.
“What we, as youth leaders, can contribute is our commitment to raising awareness, re-educating and informing our peers about political issues.”—Ouattara Assad
In Somalia, young artists shared powerful reflections on peace, identity and coexistence at an art exhibition in Mogadishu, using creative expression to open dialogue in a society affected by prolonged conflict. In Kenya, school-based peace clubs equip students with skills to resolve disputes peacefully and engage constructively in their communities.
Young Somali artists showcase their artwork depicting powerful reflections on peace, identity and coexistence at an exhibition in the capital Mogadishu.
Photo: UNDP Somalia
In Iraq and Lebanon, UNDP works with young content creators, media professionals and civil society organizations to create and share stories that promote inclusive dialogue and push back against hate speech and the spread of false information.
Across these contexts, youth-led initiatives demonstrate how promoting critical thinking, dialogue and credible information can reduce vulnerability to extremist narratives.
Women countering digital harm and extremist narratives
Women, too, are redefining prevention efforts. As teachers, peacebuilders and leaders, they strengthen social cohesion and help address the grievances that violent extremist narratives exploit. In Togo, Gender Talks have brought together women media professionals, community mediators and youth to discuss ideas and practical ways to protect the rights of women and girls and stop gender-based misinformation.
Participants highlighted how disinformation reinforces discrimination, undermines women’s participation in public life and threatens social cohesion—dynamics that violent extremist groups frequently exploit.
Women play a key role as trusted community ambassadors, using their online and offline platforms to amplify women’s voices and build resilience against violent extremism.
Media professionals participate in Gender Talk in Togo where they discuss practical ways to protect the rights of women and girls and stop gender-based misinformation.
Photo: UNDP Togo
Strengthening media and digital ecosystems
In a constantly changing media landscape, journalists, content creators and digital platforms play a critical role in shaping narratives and preventing harm.
UNDP has supported the establishment of the Digital Journalists Association of Sri Lanka, to strengthen journalists’ capacities to detect misinformation and to strengthen ethical digital reporting.
In Ghana, UNDP trained journalists, bloggers, and religious and community leaders to identify and prevent hate speech, verify information, apply conflict-sensitive reporting and responsibly use AI. As Rafiq Nungor Adam, a young freelance journalist in Northern Ghana, explains: “Fact-checking helps me report accurately”. His commitment to truth has earned him respect across communities in Northern Ghana, who appreciate his efforts to give a voice to marginalized people.
Rafiq Nungor Adam, a journalist in Ghana.
Photo: UNDP Ghana
Suala Abdul Wahab, a journalist in Ghana.
Photo: UNDP Ghana
Prevention that works
UNDP’s PVE initiatives--rooted in human rights, inclusion, and community leadership--demonstrate that prevention works. From digital literacy programmes and countering disinformation training for media professionals to youth-led awareness raising campaigns, these initiatives address the root causes that allow violent extremism to take hold.
This year’s PVE Day theme, “Preventing Violent Extremism in the Digital Age: Anticipating New and Emerging Technologies’ Risks and Opportunities, Safeguarding Human Rights, and Empowering Future Generations”, calls for collective action.
This year also marks the ninth review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the twentieth anniversary of the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, the message is clear: prevention must start with people, with dignity, opportunity, inclusion and access to truthful information at its core.
The choices we make today will determine whether future generations inherit a digital world shaped by hate and division, or one designed for dialogue, safety and shared opportunity.
This year’s PVE Day is a call for unity, innovation and action that honours the last 20 years while charting a safer path for the next generation.
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