Violent extremists (VE) are individuals who support and/or commit ideologically-motivated violence to further political agendas. Countering violent extremism (CVE) therefore encompasses the preventative aspects of counter-terrorism (CT) to undermine the attraction of extremist organizations, and ideology that promotes violence. Methods include specific community-led awareness, interventions and counter narratives.

In the context of the recent global spread of violent extremism, which systematically targets women and employs sexual and gender-based violence, the NGO Working Group works to ensure the UN Security Council and Member States incorporate WPS (Women, Peace and Security) resolutions and best practices. These 7 Provisions are the result of fifteen years of work on WPS, in all actions to countering violent extremism and counter-terrorism policies. In particular, the NGO Working Group advocates for the inclusion of gender analysis and monitoring, to better understand the dynamics and impacts of violent extremism on women, including recognizing the broad range of roles women play in supporting and countering violent extremism.

In addition, the NGOWG advocates for changes to the mandate of the UN Committee on Counter-terrorism, guided by resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), to ensure that women and women civil society organizations are consulted, and are granted full and equal participation in formal processes of CVE and CT at the international, regional and national level.