SAVE-Sisters Against Violent Extremism is the world's first female counter-terrorism platform. Headquartered at the Women without Borders offices in Vienna, Austria, the SAVE initiative brings together a broad spectrum of women determined to create a united front against violent extremism. SAVE provides women with the tools for critical debate to challenge extremist thinking and to develop alternative strategies for combating the growth of global terrorism.
3. What is SAVE?
SAVE is the world‘s first female counterterrorism
platform.
SAVE is a Women without Borders initiative.
SAVE encourages female leadership and action in
security, counter-terrorism, and peace-building.
SAVE provides women with the tools to challenge
extremist thinking and develop alternative strategies
to combat global terrorism.
SAVE breaks through barriers of nationalism,
religion, and ethnicity to form a global network of
women dedicated to end violent extremism.
4. Who does SAVE work with?
Mothers
Universities and schools
Victims and survivors of terrorist attacks
Policy-makers
NGOs and women’s
groups
Former radicals
Academics and
Educators
5. Where does SAVE currently operate?
Israel & Palestine
Yemen
India
Pakistan
Indonesia
Tajikistan
Northern Ireland
Upcoming:
Somalia, England, Nigeria
and France
6. Mothers MOVE!
• Encourage mothers to act as early-warning
systems for the signs of radicalization, given their
position at the heart of families and communities.
•Equip women with the tools to challenge extremist
thinking and to advocate for alternatives to violent
extremism.
•Promote dialogue about and provide mutual
support for ending violent extremism.
•Engage in on-the-ground data collection to
gather evidence for needs-based project
implementation.
7. Phyllis Rodriguez & Aicha el-Wafi
build bridges after 9/11
•Phyllis Rodriguez lost her son
in the 9/11 attacks.
•Aicha el-Wafi is the mother of
Zacarias Moussaoui, the first person
ever to be tried in a US court on
charges of involvement in the
9/11 attacks.
•Phyllis and Aicha formed a strong
bond over the years; together they advocate
against all forms of violent extremism.
8. NIGERIA
•Christian pastor Esther
Ibanga and Muslim scholar
Khadija Hawaja came together
to end the violence in Nigeria.
•Their shared experience with
the threat of violent extremism
brought them closer together.
•They are a perfect example of
how influential women can be
in combating the ideologies
and realities of violent
extremism.
9. .
Bridge-building dialogues
INDIA & PAKISTAN
There is no ‘them,’ there is only ‘us’
With Indian and Pakistani activists, experts, academics, victims
Breaking down prejudice
Building understanding
Building on commonalities
Creating SAVE spaces
10. Mothers for Change!
Research project in Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine,
Northern Ireland (and Saudi Arabia)
Addressing mothers as key players
in the process of prevention and
deradicalization.
Identifying ways to engage women
as critical actors in their
communities.
Identifying the tools they need to act
as early warning systems in their
immediate environment.
11. Mothers‘ Schools
Increasing mothers’ self-
confidence to counter violent-
extremism through a strategic
course.
Identifying local and
international trainers to deliver
additional free courses in a wide
range of topics such as health,
language and parenting.
12. ISRAEL & PALESTINE
•Robi Damelin and Siham Abu
Awwad reached out to one another
across the divide of the conflict and
formed a strong alliance.
• They are determined to achieve a
‘human solution’ for the ongoing
conflict by reaching out to other
mothers on both sides.
•It’s not enough to merely include
women and mothers in the peace
process; they must be among the
leaders.
14. Both Palestinian and Israeli mothers wish for a more stable and
prosperous future for their children.
Palestinian mothers are increasingly worried that their children might
become involved in violent activities.
Israeli mothers are often concerned when their children are obliged to
join the army.
The suffering of a Palestinian
mother who lost her son/daughter
in the conflict is the same as the
pain of an Israeli mother who lost
hers.
By connecting on a human
level, these mothers become
able to see eye to eye and ‘use
their pain as a power’ to
achieve reconciliation and
peace.