Together for Safety

The report 'Together for Safety 21 Ways Forward' outlines strategies for urban leaders to combat extremism and polarisation, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies trends such as the 'gamification of extremism' and the use of conspiracy theories by right-wing and jihadist groups to target minorities and youth. The document provides 21 guiding principles across four themes: preventing extremism post-pandemic, countering online hate, securing public spaces, and empowering youth. Key recommendations include adopting evidence-based 'hot spot mapping', investing in youth-led organisations, and strengthening mental health initiatives to build community resilience.

• The Covid-19 pandemic altered the landscape of violent extremism, with jihadist groups using narratives to frame the virus as "a punishment for infidels" and calling for attacks on critical infrastructure like hospitals. Simultaneously, right-wing extremists have used conspiracy theories to blame Jewish and Muslim communities for the virus and promote the idea of a "White Genocide" or "The Great Replacement."
• Extremist groups are increasingly using 'gamification' to recruit youth by infiltrating gaming platforms such as Discord and social media. In the US, some groups have framed real-world attacks as a way for players to earn 'points'.
• Extremist movements, including both jihadist and right-wing groups, attempt to 'fill the void' of state services by acting as community organisers and service providers to gain support in unstable areas or among those suffering economically from the pandemic.
• To counter online harms, the report recommends that cities develop technological capabilities to monitor the local online landscape and establish broad coalitions between private companies, governments, and educators to identify threats.
• Urban safety requires integrated, evidence-based policies rather than purely securitised approaches. This includes using 'hot spot mapping', social media analytics, and vulnerability assessments to manage protests and protect public spaces from terror attacks.
• Youth should be treated as partners and leaders rather than just targets of prevention. The report highlights the effectiveness of using sports (e.g., football in Denmark and Kenya) and drama/storytelling (e.g., street theatre in Kenya and tours in Pakistan) to build resilience and challenge prejudice.

APA

Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2021). Together for Safety. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Together_for_Safety.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Together for Safety. 2021. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Together_for_Safety.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |title=Together for Safety |date=2021 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Together_for_Safety.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforstrategicdialogue2021together, author = {{Institute for Strategic Dialogue}}, title = {{Together for Safety}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Together_for_Safety.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }