Hedayah

As the Fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week draws to a close, H.E. Maqsoud Kruse, Chairman of Hedayah's International Steering Board and the United Arab Emirates’ Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism, commended the Hedayah team for another week of meaningful engagement, international partnership, and thought leadership:

"Countering extremism and terrorism requires more than responding to today's challenges. It demands sustained investment in prevention, international cooperation, and evidence-based solutions that strengthen resilience for the future. I commend the Hedayah team for representing our organisation with distinction throughout Counter-Terrorism Week, advancing dialogue, sharing expertise, and reinforcing Hedayah's role as a trusted international centre of excellence. Together with our Member States and partners, we remain committed to building safer, more resilient societies."

We thank our Member States, partners, and colleagues across the United Nations system for another successful Counter-Terrorism Week and look forward to continuing this important work together.

United Nations

As the Fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week concludes, Executive Director, H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, and Deputy Executive Director, Ivo Veenkamp, represented Hedayah in New York through a series of high-level engagements, bilateral meetings, and strategic partnerships, contributing to global dialogue and international cooperation on preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Hedayah also welcomed the support of the Chairman of its International Steering Board, H.E. Maqsoud Kruse, who participated in the week's engagements in his capacity as the United Arab Emirates' Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism.

A key highlight was Hedayah's participation in three official Counter-Terrorism Week side events:

At Beyond Narratives: Terrorism Radicalisation Pathways and the Road to Resilience, hosted by the Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Türkiye with UNOCT, Hedayah joined international experts to examine evolving pathways to radicalization and the importance of evidence-based, multi-stakeholder approaches to strengthening resilience.

Hedayah participated as a speaker at the Central Asian Experiences on the Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones event, alongside the Permanent Missions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, UNOCT, UNRCCA, and the AQNIET Foundation. The discussion highlighted lessons from Central Asia's leadership in repatriation and reintegration, emphasizing coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, regional cooperation, and the importance of sustained support for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.

Hedayah was also pleased to contribute to Session 4 "Strategic Capacity Building Responses: Countering Misuse of AI, New and Emerging Technologies," of the UN High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism”, with remarks by H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Director, reiterating Hedayah’s commitment to supporting international efforts to address the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, through research, policy dialogue, and technical assistance.

Hedayah further strengthened its partnerships through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, reinforcing a long-standing collaboration to advance regional P/CEVE efforts.

We thank our Member State partners, the United Nations, and the wider international community for another successful Counter-Terrorism Week and look forward to continuing our shared efforts towards a future free from terrorism.



United Nations

Hedayah was proud to expand its partnership with Uzbekistan through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This marks an important milestone in Hedayah's long standing engagement in the region and reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable, locally led approaches to preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism.

As a key institutional partner supporting the implementation of the European Commission-funded Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) of Returnees from Northeast Syria initiative in Uzbekistan, ISRS will play an important role in strengthening national capacities, enhancing interagency coordination, and advancing long-term rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. The program is jointly implemented by Hedayah, the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ).

Commenting on the signing, H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Director of Hedayah, stated:

"This MoU reflects the continued growth of Hedayah's partnership with Uzbekistan and our shared commitment to developing practical, locally grounded approaches to prevention and reintegration. Over several years of engagement, we have built strong relationships with national institutions and identified common priorities that now enable us to move from dialogue to sustained implementation and long-term impact."

This agreement builds on Hedayah's broader engagement in Uzbekistan, including support to national efforts on rehabilitation and reintegration, strategic communications, religious engagement, and strengthening resilience to extremist narratives through locally led approaches.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting Uzbekistan in strengthening coordinated, sustainable, and nationally owned approaches to prevention and reintegration.

As the international community gathers for the Fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week under the theme, "A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism through Member States' Leadership and Action," Hedayah reflects on its growing global contribution to preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism (P/CEVE).

Between January 2025 and May 2026, Hedayah strengthened the capacities of more than 2,000 stakeholders, delivered 35 locally contextualized initiatives across 17 countries, convened over 1,500 practitioners and policymakers, developed seven new evidence-based resources, and supported locally led prevention efforts through more than US$1.3 million in grant funding.

Through technical assistance, research, strategic partnerships, and locally led programming, Hedayah continues to support Member States and communities in building resilience and advancing sustainable, whole-of-society approaches to prevention.

The impact of these efforts is reflected not only in the number of activities delivered, but in the knowledge, partnerships, and national prevention efforts they help strengthen. During the reporting period, 95% of stakeholders reported increased knowledge through Hedayah's interventions, reinforcing the value of investing in people, partnerships, and practical action to advance global prevention efforts.

📩 Keep up to date with our activities by signing up to receive the Hedayah Newsletter:

🔗 http://eepurl.com/iS7XF6

📣 Introducing Hedayah in Focus - a new series highlighting Hedayah's work, partnerships, and impact across the preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism (P/CEVE) landscape.

The series offers a closer look at how Hedayah is working with Member States, practitioners, civil society, and international partners to strengthen prevention through practical, evidence-based, and locally driven approaches.

This first edition reflects this year's United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week theme, "A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism through Member States' Leadership and Action." Across our work, this means strengthening national strategies, supporting communities, advancing rehabilitation and reintegration, investing in education, and responding to emerging challenges, including harmful online content and digital resilience.

From empowering trusted local actors and supporting evidence-based policymaking to strengthening partnerships, coordination, and resilience across regions, these examples represent different pathways toward the same goal: sustainable prevention with lasting impact.

Swipe through to see some of Hedayah's current work advancing our strategic priorities and contributing to stronger, more resilient communities around the world.

🔗 To learn more about our work, visit: hedayah.com



European Commission FCDO travel advice Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada اللجنة الوطنية لمكافحة الإرهاب Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund