play a key role in turning thoughts and grievances into violence and directing 41 individuals into VERLT. Men may constitute the majority of perpetrators of violent extremism, but women are also involved in violent extremist groups in various capacities, ranging from support functions 42 to active participation in the planning, preparation and perpetration of terrorist attacks. They are also mobilizers, recruiting other women and girls, as well as men and boys. Some of the drivers of VERLT may be identical for men and women, but they may be experienced differently along gender lines. Specific factors of women’s radicalization to terrorism or violence may include “gender-based inequality and discrimination, violence against women, lack of educational and economic opportunities and lack of opportunities for women to exercise their civil and political rights and engage in the political process 43 with lawful and non-violent means”. The OSCE participating States have expressed particular concern about the radicalization 44 to terrorism or violence of “youth, including children” evidenced, for example, by the high number of boys and girls who have left their country as so-called “foreign terrorist 45 fighters”. The motives that drive children towards radicalization to terrorism or violence 46 seem to be as diverse as those for adults. Children may, however, be more vulnerable to VERLT, owing to their lesser relative level of maturity and the search for identity and 47 purpose. Violent extremist groups are exploiting real or perceived grievances and resentment to offer the sense of recognition, identity and belonging children are often looking for. Any discourse using the antipodes of “us” versus “the others” resonates particularly well among children. Some may join violent extremist groups, as they offer the material and socio-psychological support they need. The Internet also plays an important 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 OSCE, Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism, op. cit., note 22, p. 35-38; UN, “Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism”, ibid., para. 32; OSCE, Understanding the Role of Gender in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism Good Practices for Law Enforcement, (Vienna: OSCE, 2020), p. 30. Understanding the Role of Gender in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism Good Practices for Law Enforcement, op. cit., note 41, p. 44; Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), Good Practices on Women and Countering Violent Extremism, good practice no. 2, p. 3. ODIHR, “Women and Radicalization leading to terrorism or violence: Final Report”, Feb. 2013, para. 5. OSCE Ministerial Council Declaration, “Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism”, op. cit., note 8. Reference will be made only to children throughout this document as this is the term used in international law although there are specific vulnerabilities and a need for protection of young adults, in their early twenties for example. There is no clear definition of young adults but, in line with General Comment 24 by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, states should follow good practice in setting a high minimum age of criminal responsibility and in applying juvenile justice rules and regulations to young adults beyond the age of 18 years, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, “General Comment No. 24 (2019) on Children’s Rights in the Child Justice System”, op. cit., note 14. For a discussion on the controversies around the term “foreign terrorist fighter” see: ODIHR, Guidelines for Addressing the Threats and Challenges of “Foreign Terrorist Fighters” within a Human Rights Framework, op. cit., note 23, p. 22. Since the term is problematic for its breadth and vagueness and the ensuing rights implications, some research on the topic refers to “foreign fighters” instead. However, the term “foreign terrorist fighters” is most commonly used in international discussions about the phenomenon and, therefore, is also used in this document. UNDP, Journey to Extremism in Africa, (New York: UNDP, 2017) pp. 4-6. Global Center on Cooperative Security & International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), “Rehabilitating Juvenile Violent Extremist Offenders in Detention: Advancing a Juvenile Justice Approach”, December 2016, p. 2. 19