Art, education and prevention panel discussion in Montreal

The Centre, in collaboration with its partner UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) organized a panel discussion at Concordia University, in Montreal, on education and art for the prevention of violent extremism among youth. This event This event focused on two components: the launch of the French version of “Youth Led Guide on Prevention of Violent Extremism Through Education” and the launch of the “Radicalishow 2: Family Affair” comic book. The event aimed to explore the ways in which education and art can be utilized within the framework of radicalization and violent extremism prevention.

The event began with remarks from local, national and international actors on the subject: Nathalie Goulet, member of the executive committee, responsible for the public security, Montréal, Sébastien Goupil, Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Maria Mourani, Québec Government Representative in the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO, Herman Deparice Okomba, Director, Center for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence.

To highlight the launch of the French version of Youth Led Guide on Prevention of Violent Extremism Through Education, Anantha Kumar Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, elaborated on the importance of strategies and ways to prevention taken through art, as well as mindfulness, empathy, compassion and critical thinking as key elements of this approach.

To read the guide in French

The participants that took part in this panel discussion were:

• Eldiablo, illustrator, comic book Radicalishow 2
• Aniqah Zowmi, lead author of Youth Led Guide on Prevention of Violent Extremism Through Education
• Elsa Mondésir Villefort, Project Officer, Community Outreach, Forum jeunesse de l’île de Montréal
• Ulrich Bounguili, Education and Community Sector Training Coordinator, CPRLV
• Félix Delage-Laurin, Artist co-director, Les Pentures Collective
• Vivek Venkatesh, Concordia University, Director & Principal Investigator at Project Someone and UNESCO co-Chair in prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism

These practitioners talked about their artistic projects as preferred vehicles of awareness, prevention, and even intervention.