Australia has formally documented its pledge to provide funding for the recently established Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Unit
Australia has formally documented its pledge to provide funding for the recently established Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Unit.
Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) alongside Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, pledging to fund the recently established Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Unit.
Under the terms of the MoU, signed on November 10, 2017, Australia has committed to providing US$1,898,812.50 over four years.
This dedicated unit was established by the Commonwealth Secretariat in 2017, following the mandate given by Commonwealth Heads of Government at the Malta summit in November 2015 to support national strategies countering violent extremism.
The Commonwealth provides support to governments and communities at risk of violent extremism using the network’s resources and existing communication mechanisms, through which experiences and strategies can be shared.
Joined by the Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ewen McDonald, at the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters in Marlborough Hosue, High Commissioner Downer said: “I’m delighted to be signing this agreement with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
“The Australian government is very pleased to be supporting the unit within the Commonwealth Secretariat, dedicated to countering violent extremism.
“We see the Commonwealth as having a really important role to play, in particular in benchmarking the policies that are pursued by Commonwealth countries to counter violent extremism, so we are happy to be proving financial support and moral and political support for this project.”
Secretary-General Scotland said: “Signing this memorandum of understanding with His Excellency is a propitious moment for the Commonwealth Secretariat, and we are extremely grateful to Australia who have supported us on so many issues for this contribution to our work on countering violent extremism, a scourge with which so many of our member countries are having to grapple.”
Head of the Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism unit, Mark Albon, said: “Australia has made an important financial contribution to the consolidation of the Commonwealth’s efforts to support member countries in their efforts to counter violent extremism.
“Australia also has a great deal of technical and human expertise upon which we hope to draw as we expand the capacity building and experience sharing activities with those Commonwealth countries dealing with ongoing threats of violent extremism.”
