Countering Radical Ideologies

Countering Radical Ideologies Through People-to-People Diplomacy

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 6, 2015

As part of the State Department’s ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism, 11 high-level government representatives from Counter-ISIL Coalition countries will begin a U.S. exchange program this week aimed at discrediting and de-legitimizing ISIL’s brand of violent extremism. The two-week project, “Countering Radical Ideologies,” sponsored through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, encourages international participants and their U.S. counterparts to share best practices and new ways to counter ISIL’s messaging.

This exchange provides opportunities to enhance international cooperation to counter violent extremism through substantive discussions between the participants and U.S. officials, private sector messaging and branding experts, and non-governmental and community actors. Through meetings with leading technology and communications companies, participants will examine ways to strengthen counterterrorism communication activities and associated programs. The United States is committed to being a constructive, respectful, and committed partner in locally-led efforts to counter ISIL’s pseudo-ideology in the Middle East and beyond. This type of people-to-people diplomacy and outreach is designed to contribute to U.S. and Coalition efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.

The U.S. itinerary includes visits to Washington, DC; New York City; and San Francisco/Silicon Valley. Participants are arriving from Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

For further information about this program, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at eca-press@state.gov.

ENDS

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