Maqsoud Kruse, Executive Director of Hedayah, the International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), commended the role of the United Arab Emirates in setting a clear example for adopting a comprehensive national strategy for preventing and countering violent extremism through promoting education, tolerance, happiness as well as its efforts in engaging youth, women and family, and disseminating a culture of religious moderation.

Kruse made his remarks as he moderated a session titled "R2P and Countering Violent Extremism", which explored the role CVE plays in the responsibility to protect as part of Hedaya's participation in "The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Response to Mass Atrocities" workshop, convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.

Furthermore, Maqsoud Kruse highlighted Hedayah’s new satellite office in Washington D.C. to further expand its reach and credibility to work with governments in developing their Prevention of CVE National Action Plans in efforts to reduce the violent extremist threat, in line with the recommendations of the UN Secretary General encouraging governments to develop National Action Plans to prevent and counter violent extremism.

The two-day workshop, which began on 23 January in Doha, Qatar, concludes today, brought together high-level representatives from the United Nations, the GCC and other international organisations. The goal of the workshop was to discuss R2P in relation to imminent threats and crises situations throughout the Middle East and the measures that can be taken to better implement its principles within the GCC and at a regional level.

The session featured discussions on the re-evaluation of regional and international responses to mass atrocities, while focusing on the good practices GCC members can take to assist states in upholding their R2P through preventing and countering violent extremism.