Professionalising women as counter-terrorism actors

Tunis hosted the second training day organised by the European project CT Just with the aim of professionalising women in police forces and security agencies as actors in the fight against terrorism in MENA countries.

The event brought together 40 participants from eight MENA countries, West Africa, representatives of the European Union, the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC), experts from the European Radicalisation Awareness Network (Europa-RAN), EUROPOL, and security experts from the Belgian judicial police and the Spanish National Police, with the aim of exchanging experiences, challenges, and discussing the emerging challenges in the fight against terrorism, with a special focus on the narrative of violent extremism and the role of women in the security forces and agencies, in order to combat this phenomenon.

During four days, several sessions have been held in which the fundamental role of women as professionals in the field of security has been highlighted, with the aim of greater integration, and that they form part of the implementation of national security policies and strategies and especially in the fight against terrorism.

The activity was structured around presentations and round tables, which allowed the participants to share good practices and establish synergies that have contributed to strengthening the professional capacities of their colleagues in their respective countries in the fight against terrorism.

The participants were able to focus on an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of female recruitment and radicalisation, highlighting how the profile of women has evolved in the context of violent extremism: from simple passive victims who fall into terrorist networks to first-rate recruiters and propagandists within terrorist organisations and violent extremists.

Detailed case studies were presented to illustrate how psychological manipulation and the use of tailored messages are used to lure women through digital platforms and social media, and to discuss the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in detecting and dismantling recruitment networks through these platforms.

In addition, delegations from Morocco, Egypt and Senegal were able to present their national strategies for the professionalisation of female security forces and participants highlighted the importance of continuous training.

Technical and operational aspects of the professionalisation of security forces and agencies were also discussed. Delegates from Benin and Iraq presented their national approaches, pointing out that the inclusion of women in operational teams not only enriches the capacities of security forces, but is also fundamental to guarantee a comprehensive and effective response to violent extremism.

With this initiative, the CT-Just project reaffirms its commitment to the professionalisation of women in the security field, recognising that their active and specialised inclusion is essential to create a safer and more resilient environment in the face of radicalisation. This activity in Tunisia has once again enabled trans-regional cooperation for the establishment of a constant exchange of experiences and best practices, which contribute to improving security policies and operational capabilities at regional and global level.