Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to city leaders from around the world today as they gathered for a workshop on how to counter violent extremism in local communities.
“There can be no doubt that the fight against radicalization begins not on distant battlefields, but in our own neighborhoods, classrooms, workplaces, houses of worship, and homes,” Kerry said to the participants gathered at the State Department.
The Strong Cities Network, which launched last September at the United Nations, aims to empower city leaders to collaborate and learn from one another as they develop strategies to prevent their community’s young people from being attracted to extremist ideologies.
Kerry told the workshop today in Washington, D.C., that 35 cities from across the globe are part of the effort and are already seeing results.
“For example, Danish cities are partnering with Amman, Beirut and Tunis to share their experience mobilizing all the tools of local government for prevention and de-radicalization,” he said.
An online portal provides members access to resources so leaders can use best practices in their own communities. But Kerry said the leaders will know “far better what works in your own community.”
“We’re not pretending one size fits all,” he said.
The first global summit for this group will convene in Antalya, Turkey, in May.
 

Source: ABC NEWS, 1 March 2016