Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a vital role in countering terrorism. Recently, WIDEF participated in the Civic Space, Human Rights, and Counter-Terrorism Workshop hosted by Spaces for Change.  During the workshop, we discussed civil society’s role in national and regional counter-terrorism responses. The event which held alongside the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Summit organized by Nigeria in collaboration with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), aimed to enhance the capacity of civil society actors to understand and effectively engage in the fight against terrorism at both national and regional levels.

One of the primary objectives of the workshop was to promote a more inclusive and informed approach to counter-terrorism efforts, ultimately contributing to the protection of human rights and the preservation of civic spaces in the region. Participating in this event is vital to the work that we do at the World Impact Development Foundation (WIDEF). We have enhanced our understanding of the complex dynamics between counter-terrorism measures, peace and security, human rights, and the preservation of civic spaces.