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Monday 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00 Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Friday 09:00 - 12:30

Hedayah, Villa #7, Marfa Al Bateen Street Bateen Area Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi (2026)

28/10/2026

As we close Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026, hear from the speakers and participants who helped shape the conversations in Malta.

Our final-day highlights capture exchanges on emerging technologies, online prevention, and the experiences of people returning from conflict zones, alongside approaches to sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration.

Across these discussions, attention turned to the people behind the research: how individuals interpret information, find belonging, experience return, and rebuild their lives within communities. Understanding these experiences helps inform responses that reflect the realities prevention efforts must address.

The conference also created opportunities to question assumptions, share lessons across different contexts, and identify areas where further research and cooperation can strengthen our work.

For Hedayah, the next step is to carry these insights into our research, programs and partnerships, working alongside governments, civil society, academia and the technology sector to advance more effective prevention.

Thank you to the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law and our partners who contributed to .

We look forward to continuing the conversations and collaboration beyond Malta.

28/10/2026

Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 has concluded in Valletta, Malta, following three days of research, dialogue and collaboration to advance global efforts to prevent and counter extremism and violent extremism.

From emerging technologies and online prevention to criminal justice responses and sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration, brought together expertise across countries and sectors to connect evidence with policy and practice.
The final thematic panel, moderated by Hedayah’s Emma Allen, explored experiences of return and support for returnees, their families and communities. Hedayah’s Bozhen Zhang and Muna Fadhil presented “Voices of al-Hol: Understanding the Experiences of Returnees,” a forthcoming publication funded by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Contributions from Dr. Gina Vale, Dr. Yasmin Chilmeran, Cátia Moreira de Carvalho, Dr. Ramadan Ilazi, Kennimrod Sariburaja and Sidonie Roberts explored education, case management, country experience and measuring rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.

Closing remarks were delivered by H.E. Datin Paduka Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib of the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism; Anna Strazcka, European Union Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism; Abdelouahed Jamali Idrissi of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Detainees; and Hedayah’s Deputy Executive Director, Ivo Veenkamp.
Our sincere thanks to our co-host, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, our Maltese hosts, sponsors, strategic partners, speakers and participants joining in person and online.

The knowledge exchanged and partnerships strengthened in Malta will inform our continuing work toward Hedayah’s vision of a progressive global reduction in extremism and violent extremism.

The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
SEARCCT
United Nations

ResearchConference26

28/10/2026

The final day of Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 in Valletta, Malta, started by exploring how emerging technologies and online environments are reshaping extremist threats and prevention efforts.

Led by the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) and the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), and moderated by Nagham El Karhili, the first panel examined terrorist and violent extremist exploitation of emerging technologies.

Julien Bellaiche presented GNET’s key threats and trends in 2026. Daria Alexe highlighted the importance of understanding how extremist actors use technology alongside the capabilities available now and on the horizon, including artificial intelligence and its implications for terrorist financing.

Dr. Munir Zamir, Strategic Engagement Director at M&C Saatchi World Services, delivered a keynote on “The Future of Online CVE and the Architecture of Harmful Meaning.”

Moderated by Hedayah’s Farangiz Atamuradova, the following panel explored online prevention, from managing bystander footage after attacks to youth resilience in gaming spaces and lessons from ten years of online violence prevention delivery.

Dr. Alastair Reed shared research on managing online footage after attacks. Dr. Elisa Orofino highlighted how pathways into extremism can begin with friendship, humor and a search for belonging—factors that content removal alone can miss.

Anna Ciceri of Moonshot reflected on a shift in approach: “We stopped asking people what they believed, and we started asking them how they were doing.”

Together, these discussions reinforced the importance of connecting technological expertise with an understanding of people’s experiences, relationships and needs.

28/10/2026

In the sidelines of Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 in Malta, our partner and co-host, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), hosted a reception welcoming conference participants and celebrating the strong partnership between our two organizations.

H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Director of Hedayah, and Naoufel Gaied, Executive Director of the IIJ, addressed participants during the reception.

The gathering provided an opportunity to continue conversations beyond the conference sessions, strengthen professional connections, and reinforce cooperation among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and partners from around the world.

Our sincere thanks to our strategic partner IIJ for their hospitality and continued partnership in advancing efforts to prevent and counter extremism and violent extremism.

The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law

28/10/2026

At Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 in Malta, GCERF, Hedayah and the IIJ, the three GCTF-inspired institutions implementing the EU-funded Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of People Returning from Iraq and Northeast Syria program in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, joined Mr. Petr Jelinek of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and an international panel of practitioners and academics to discuss comprehensive approaches to the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration (PRR) of individuals returning from conflict zones and their family members.

Drawing on experience from Central Asia, West Africa, the Middle East and North Africa and the Western Balkans, the panel examined lessons learned and country perspectives on prosecuting terrorism offences in line with human rights standards and on supporting returnees’ long-term disengagement and sustainable reintegration into society. Featured country presentations included contributions from the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Detainees in Morocco, the National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC) in Iraq and the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The panel’s emphasis on national ownership and context-specific approaches to PRR challenges was also reflected in the participation of representatives from key institutional counterparts involved in the three institutions’ joint EU-funded PRR program in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan: the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Looking ahead, GCERF, Hedayah and the IIJ remain committed to continuing to work with partners in Central Asia and beyond to advance sustainable, rights-based and nationally owned approaches to PRR.

The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF)
isrs.uz

ResearchConference26

28/10/2026

Watch highlights and speaker reflections from Day 2 of Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 in Valletta, Malta, with a closer look at the “Evolving Criminal Justice Responses to Evolving Threats” panel.

Led by Hedayah’s partner and co-host, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, the panel examined how changing threats, emerging technologies, and challenges to cross-border cooperation are shaping criminal justice responses.

Hon. Shaldilyn Bara Bangsaja of the Philippines Regional Trial Court highlighted the importance of implementation: “A law may be robust on paper, but implementation determines whether it produces lawful, sustainable outcomes.”

Addisu Fekensa of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice examined gaps in the use of evidence for prosecution, including the potential value of battlefield evidence.

Winthrop Wells of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law explored how artificial intelligence and technologies such as drones are transforming warfare, with implications for law enforcement, justice, and accountability.

The day also connected country perspectives on prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration with interactive research consultations on assessing vulnerability and risk and building community support for reintegration.

Through these exchanges, Hedayah continues to connect research with practical experience and strengthen collaboration to inform more effective prevention and countering efforts.

Our thanks to our co-host, sponsors, strategic partners, speakers, and participants for their contributions.

27/10/2026

Highlights and speaker reflections from Day 2 of the Hedayah International Research Conference 2026 in Valletta, Malta, where research and country experience informed discussions on criminal justice, prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Today’s panels brought together justice practitioners, policymakers, researchers and national partners to examine responses to evolving threats and share lessons on supporting sustainable, nationally owned approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration.

The afternoon continued with interactive research consultations, drawing on the expertise of academics, policymakers and practitioners attending .

Hedayah and University College Cork led a consultation on developing tools to assess vulnerability and risk. A second consultation, led by the University of Leeds Centre for Global Security Challenges alongside research partners, explored how to build community support for rehabilitation and reintegration, including the role of trust, credibility and transparency in achieving positive outcomes.

These exchanges support ongoing research and practice while creating opportunities for collaboration beyond the conference.

Our thanks to our co-host, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, our sponsors and strategic partners, and all speakers and participants for their contributions.

Tomorrow, the final day will explore cross-sector perspectives on evolving threats, online prevention, and sustainable rehabilitation and reintegration.

The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law

CEVE ResearchConference26

27/10/2026

Hedayah’s International Research Conference 2026 continues in Valletta, Malta, building on insights shared during yesterday’s opening session.

Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), highlighted the importance of translating emerging evidence into practical support for prevention and recovery. He thanked H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, Hedayah’s Executive Director, and his team for their longstanding collaboration with UNOCT.

Dr. Alessia Carbone of Malta’s Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs emphasized the role of research in understanding evolving pathways to radicalization, the grievances exploited by extremist narratives, and conditions that may contribute to violence.

H.E. Miriam Álvarez de la Rosa, Ambassador of Spain to Malta, reiterated Spain’s support for Hedayah and its programs. She also highlighted the Voices of Al-Hol report, which explores the experiences of individuals returning from Syria.

Adilet Orozbekov, Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, also contributed to the opening session.

Hedayah thanks UNOCT and Mr. Zouev for their partnership, Spain for its continued support, and the Republic of Malta for its support and warm welcome.

The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
United Nations
T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı

26/10/2026

A look back at Day 1 of the Hedayah International Research Conference 2026 in Valletta, Malta, with highlights and reflections from speakers exploring an evolving extremist landscape.

Across three thematic panels, discussions examined extremist use of the internet and artificial intelligence, emerging forms of extremism, and the potential of technology to strengthen prevention and countering efforts.

From new patterns of online mobilization and radicalization to the opportunities and limitations of artificial intelligence, today’s exchanges connected emerging research with the practical challenges facing governments, practitioners, and the technology sector.

Hosted by Hedayah in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, creates space for these perspectives to inform one another and support cooperation across countries and sectors.
Hear from today’s speakers and revisit some of the conversations shaping this year’s conference.

Stay tuned for Day 2, as discussions turn to criminal justice responses, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration, followed by interactive consultations.

26/10/2026

The Hedayah International Research Conference 2026 ( ) commenced today in Valletta, Malta, bringing together government representatives, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, technology sector representatives, partners, and leaders to strengthen global cooperation in preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism.

Hosted by Hedayah in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, the opening session featured H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Director of Hedayah; Reinhard Uhrig of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law; Dr. Alessia Carbone of Malta’s Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs; Alexandre Zouev of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism; and H.E. Miriam Álvarez de la Rosa, Ambassador of Spain to Malta.

This morning’s discussions explored extremist use of the internet and artificial intelligence, from propaganda and digital infrastructure to exposure to harmful content in online gaming. A keynote by Erdem Tunçer of Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs examined pathways to radicalization.

As the conference continues, discussions turn to emerging forms of extremism and the opportunities for artificial intelligence and technology to support prevention.

A shared commitment to connecting evidence, policy, and practice sets the direction for the three days ahead.

United Nations
Embajada de España en Malta
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs
BNPT

CEVE ResearchConference26

Hedayah

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Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 12:30