On 12 February 2026, the United Nations will commemorate the fourth ‘International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism’ through a series of events and activities.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 77/243, the International Day provides a platform for Member States, the United Nations system and all relevant stakeholders - including civil society, religious leaders, the private sector, academia and the media, to come together to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, raise awareness of its impact, and renew collective action to prevent it.
The observance aims to promote inclusive, human rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to prevention, grounded in dialogue, partnerships and community-led solutions.
Preventing Violent Extremism in the Age of New and Emerging Technologies
The 2026 observance focuses on the intersection between violent extremism conducive to terrorism and new and emerging technologies. Rapid digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, algorithmic systems, evolving social media ecosystems and emerging online spaces, is reshaping how individuals and communities communicate, form identities and engage with the world.
While these technologies offer significant opportunities to strengthen efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, and to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, they are also increasingly exploited by terrorist actors. Online platforms and digital tools are misused to spread hate speech and harmful narratives, facilitate recruitment and radicalization to terrorism, disseminate mis-disinformation and mobilize support for violence, creating new and complex challenges for prevention efforts.
Against this backdrop, the 2026 International PVE Day provides a platform to examine emerging threats, share good practices, and highlight innovative, human rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to prevention. The observance will spotlight partnerships, policies and programmes that harness technology responsibly and in a human rights-compliant manner, strengthen international cooperation and translate global commitments into concrete outcomes.
Events Organized by the United Nations on 12 February 2026
| 10:00 AM EDT | International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE): PVE in the Digital Age: Anticipating New and Emerging Technologies Risks and Opportunities, Safeguarding Human Rights, and Empowering Future Generations Statement: |
2:00 PM EDT | Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Statement |
| 7:00 AM EDT (5:30 PM Delhi, ) | How can Education Prevent Violent Extremism? () Organized by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), the event will feature expert discussions on leveraging education to prevent violent extremism and promote sustainable peace, followed by a performance by the all-women choir MIRAI. |
The Work of the United Nations on Preventing Violent Extremism
The United Nations designs and delivers targeted capacity-building initiatives to address the conducive to terrorism at the global, regional, and country levels, with a focus on promoting human rights-compliant and gender responsive approaches. The Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact supports collaboration among United Nations entities to streamline efforts and provide cohesive support to Member States in implementing the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant recommendations of the Pact for the Future.
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UNESCO
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| UNDP |
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| UNODC |
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| IOM |
Useful Information
- Video Message by Mr. Zouev
- Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres remarks
- Press releases:
- Trello board :
- #PVEDay #UNiteToCounterTerrorism
- United Nations observance page
- UN Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact
Video Message by Acting USG Zouev
Guiding documents
The observance of the International Day is grounded in key United Nations policy frameworks that guide global efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism:
- United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides the overarching framework for international efforts to prevent terrorism and address the conditions conducive to it.
- 厂别肠谤别迟补谤测-骋别苍别谤补濒’蝉 Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism emphasizes inclusive, rights-based and community-led approaches.
- Pact for the Future (2024) and its annexes, including the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations reaffirm the international community’s commitment to addressing the drivers of terrorism. Action 23 commits to pursuing a future free from terrorism, including through:
- Preventing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism
- Building Member State capacities
- Promoting international law and human rights
- Whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches
- Addressing the misuse of new and emerging technologies
- Strengthening coordination of United Nations counter-terrorism
In the context of the UN80 Initiative and in the lead-up to the 9th review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2026, this year’s observance serves as a strategic moment to strengthen partnerships, deepen dialogue and advance practical solutions.
UNOCT/UNCCT's Global Programme on PVE
Practice Guide on Artificial Intelligence
Developed by UNOCT/UNCCT Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), this Practice Guide offers practical, human-rights-based guidance for policymakers and practitioners seeking to engage with artificial intelligence responsibly in PCVE. It provides concrete tools (including risk-assessment templates, human rights and ethical checklists and stakeholder-mapping exercises) to support immediate application and was produced with the support of the Republic of Korea.