The First Forum for Preventing Violent Extremism
On the occassion of the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Rafic Hariri the founder of the Hariri Foundation — and in conjunction with the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism — the Hariri Foundation organized Lebanon’s First Forum for Preventing Violent Extremism at the National State Academy.
The event opened with welcoming speech by Mrs. Bahia Hariri (President of the Hariri Foundation), and a speech by Dr. Rubina Abou Zeinab (Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation). This was followed by 2 sessions addressing diverse aspects of PVE, including conditions, mechanisms, and Early Warning Systems.
Session 1 – Conditions and Mechanisms for Preventing Violent Extremism
The session was introduced by the youth organizers and included a video presentation on the National Strategy and the National Action Plan for Preventing Violent Extremism. It also featured a presentation on the Hariri Foundation, education, youth, and the prevention of violent extremism, as well as on the monitoring of sectoral indicators over the past two years and the role of monitoring in early warning.

Session 2 – Early Warning Systems and the Prevention of Violent Extremism
The session featured a panel discussion with 3 experts bringing their insights on PVE across multiple sectors, including:
- Norma Wakim
- Lama Srour
- Rasha Shokr
The session, moderated by Dr. Abou Zeinab, engaged participants in a Q&A and in live voting, which addressed participants’ perceptions on early warning and the prevention of violent extremism.
Bahia Hariri
Mrs. Hariri highlighted the importance of values such as tolerance, dialogue, and education in preventing violent extremism and promoting peace. She emphasized that education is crucial for fostering critical thinking and tolerance among youth, equipping them to combat extremist ideologies. She also highlighted the need for collective reflection on global risks to peace and security, advocating for a united Lebanon.
Dr. Rubina Abou Zainab
Dr. Abou Zainab noted that the National Strategy for Preventing Violent Extremism, adopted by the Government of Lebanon in March 2018, emphasized the role of the national state in the prevention of violent extremism, through promoting social justice and restoring trust. Dr. Abou Zeinab emphasized that this was founded in the key values of the Hariri Foundation, who played a key role in developing this strategy.