The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), in collaboration with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), hosted a regional workshop on “Youth Participation in and Exposure to Nihilistic Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (NVE)” from June 24–25, 2026. Held at the Grand Mercure Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this timely event brought together over 70 international practitioners, law enforcement officials, and researchers to analyze how NVE impacts young people and to establish an operationally effective framework to counter this growing threat. Throughout the intensive two-day programme, global experts evaluated current research, identified critical knowledge gaps, and explored preventative strategies to curb the spread of extremist content across online networks and gaming platforms.
The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Mr. Robert Rushby, Director of CT Asia at the Counter Terrorism Branch of DFAT Australia, and Datin Paduka Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib, Director General of SEARCCT. Day 1 focused on establishing a baseline understanding of NVE, its memetic nature, regional trends within Southeast Asia, and how digital spaces and gaming ecosystems are exploited to groom and radicalise youth. SEARCCT hosted a networking dinner following the general sessions, giving local agency representatives and international speakers a dedicated space to exchange strategic insights and build partnerships.
Day 2 turned to practical and operational solutions. Sessions focused on enhancing international cooperation, strengthening legal listing frameworks, and establishing coordinated early-intervention pathways involving schools, families, and mental health providers. Participants also outlined future research priorities and addressed the unique challenges NVE poses to frontline law enforcement and the judiciary. The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Robert Rushby and Mr. Asrul Daniel Ahmed, Director of the Digital Strategic Communications Division at SEARCCT.
#CounterTerrorism #NVE2026 #YouthSafety #PublicSecurity #SEARCCT #DFAT
