Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands Goal 1: Preventing conflict around Europe and the Kingdom In recent years, crises, wars and widespread instability around the borders of EU and the Kingdom have affected not only the men, women and children living in these regions but also our own security and national interests. Examples include the terrorist threat in Europe after the emergence of ISIS, the unrest in Venezuela, international crime, the downing of flight MH17 as a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine, and domestic polarisation regarding refugee flows. Conflict prevention is therefore important for both development and security. Crises are also related to migration policy: civil wars like the one in Libya provide springboards to people smugglers and human traffickers. Where people cannot live in safety, sustainable poverty reduction and development of the rule of law are practically impossible. | 26 | No country can lastingly prevent a crisis or conflict on its own. The Netherlands therefore intends to actively press for result-oriented international cooperation on conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We take the lead in these areas in international bodies like the EU, the UN and NATO. To promote conflict prevention around the borders of the EU and the Kingdom, the Netherlands is investing in its information and intelligence capability, and the knowledge and capacity to identify (early warning) and prevent (early action) threats of conflict and crisis. To this end, the government is working towards an integrated conflict prevention agenda that combines security, migration, foreign trade and development cooperation priorities. This agenda ties in with the Netherlands’ efforts to tackle the structural root causes of potential conflicts long before violence breaks out, and to quickly help reduce the threat of imminent crises. This entails addressing problems like the effects of climate change, resource and water scarcity, population growth and inequality. Preventing recurring violence, during and immediately after a period of escalating violent conflict, is part of this effort. Our starting points are human security and a people-oriented approach, which prioritises civilian interests, sustainable and inclusive peacebuilding and the protection of human rights. Of course, this includes a focus on the broad SDG agenda and the special position of women and gender in conflict areas, including implementation of UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. A solid information position, with up-to-date and detailed information, based in part on innovative big data solutions for peace and security, is also of great importance. "The Sustainable Development Goals […] are the ultimate prevention agenda. They address the drivers and root causes of instability and conflict." Working Worldwide for the Security of the Netherlands "Conflict prevention is not merely a priority but the priority." UN Secretary-General António Guterres The Kingdom and its allies and multilateral partners need more professional preventive capabilities, both military and civil. Preventive civil missions and diplomacy, as well as options for economic and military escalation, are crucial. Alongside civil actors, the armed forces play an important role in establishing legitimate military capabilities, for example in Africa and the Middle East. The mission network also plays a preventive role in regions where the causes of insecurity, conflict and terrorism are rooted. This increases the Netherlands’ influence in and knowledge of these areas and the security risks they pose. Tackling cross-border criminal networks of traffickers in arms, people and drugs is also important in promoting legitimate stability around and security within Europe and the Kingdom. The same applies to preventing criminal networks from joining forces with terrorists and violent extremist networks (see goals 2, 7 and 10). Goal 2: Eliminating the root causes of terrorism Terrorism is a transnational problem, but its root causes and breeding grounds are often determined by local circumstances. Systematic marginalisation and repression of vulnerable groups by the authorities (human rights violations) , poverty, unemployment and lack of prospects are some of the root causes (push factors) for radicalisation, which can lead to people joining terrorist groups. Pull factors include a shared ideological frame of reference and a sense of identity and fellowship. International and European cooperation is essential to address the threat of radicalisation in third countries at an early stage. The Netherlands aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable young people in regions where radicalisation is a risk, for example, on the border between Tunisia and Libya, or in northeast Nigeria. Dutch instruments for foreign trade and international cooperation, such as investments in education, employment, equality and the legal order, are being more thoroughly deployed in these regions, in cooperation with our bilateral and multilateral partners. These multidisciplinary interventions improve the future prospects of young people who may be susceptible to radicalisation, thus strengthening the impact of existing preventive measures aimed at this target group. Such interventions aim at both preventing and countering violent extremism. The Netherlands also works through the EU to combat radicalisation, one example being the code of conduct on online hate speech. Our international cultural policy aims to strengthen young people’s identity and capacity for critical judgment. | 27 |