There is practically no country in the OSCE that has not been affected by violent extremism. In 2016, terrorist attacks in OSCE participating States caused more than one thousand deaths. They destroyed billions of Euros worth of property and infrastructure, undermined people’s confidence in government and institutions and created fear and suspicion between members of different ethnic and religious communities. Violent extremists not only cause death and destruction, they poison societies with  hateful ideologies, and hinder peaceful development, dialogue, and cooperation. They are diametrically opposed to the OSCE’s core values and principles.

Needless to say, threats from violent extremism are constantly changing, and they come in different forms and manifestations. Many OSCE countries have been challenged by ethnic separatists, while others have struggled with militants from the extreme Left and Right. In recent years, there has been a surge in violent extremists claiming to act in the name of religion. Since 2012, more than 10,000 citizens or permanent residents of OSCE countries have joined groups like al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (often referred to as Daesh or IS) in Syria and Iraq. Some of their supporters have carried out terrorist attacks in European cities, such as Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, London,  Berlin, and Stockholm. While most experts believe that IS’s self-declared “Caliphate“ is crumbling, regional instability and terrorist threats are certain to persist.