COUNTERING TERRORISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM We reiterate our strong condemnation of acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the Governments of those affected. Countering terrorism and violent extremism and bringing perpetrators to justice remain top priorities for the international community. Holding perpetrators accountable for their actions not only is crucial for victims, it also helps to prevent terrorism and sends a strong message that violence is an unacceptable response to political or ideological grievances. Standing united in our efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism, our response will remain grounded in our shared system of values and norms. The principles on which our societies are built remain the first and best defence against this common threat: in countering terrorism and violent extremism, we will continue to uphold respect for human rights, promote fundamental freedoms and foster a culture of inclusion and gender equality as cornerstones of our concerted action. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, respect for diversity, respect for dignity of women and girls, tolerance and inclusive dialogue as fundamental to preventing the emergence and spread of violent extremism, in all its forms. International cooperation remains of paramount importance in the fight against terrorism: we will continue to support the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and relevant international instruments, as well as the recent efforts aimed at addressing the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime that finance terrorism and undermine our security and economic growth. We will continue to support the SecretaryGeneral’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) to ensure countries are equipped with the strategies, expertise and tools they need to address this challenge. We follow closely the ongoing UN Counter-terrorism architecture reform efforts, and welcome the proposal of the Secretary-General envisaging the creation of a new Under Secretary-General position to lead a new UN Office of Counter-terrorism. We look forward to the new Office taking a leading role in implementing all four pillars of the UN’s Global Counter-terrorism Strategy, including institutionalizing PVE across the UN system, while fostering cooperation with international and regional organizations, ensuring better coherence and co-ordination and de-conflicting current duplications of effort. We support a transparent approach to this process. As founding members, we continue to support the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), as well as the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), the Hedayah Joint Communiqué | G7 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING 2