The News Stand

Women Fight Extremism and Build Peace Worldwide

The International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) works to prevent violent extremism by supporting women peacebuilders around the world. ICAN believes that women are often the first to notice when extremist groups are growing in their communities. These groups often promote ideas that women should be controlled by men and use violence to spread their beliefs. But women also have special skills to counter these harmful messages and build peace instead. ICAN provides training, research, and advocacy to help women leaders create what they call 'PREP' - Peaceful conflict resolution, Resilience against hate, Equality for all people, and Pluralism that celebrates diversity. They work with local women's organizations to develop solutions that fit each community's specific needs. The organization has published research reports and case studies showing how women successfully prevent extremism by building trust in their communities and creating positive alternatives to violence. Their approach focuses on what communities should build toward, not just what they should fight against.