Dear friends and partners,

Throughout 2017 we have seen a profound surge in polarisation and cumulative extremism alongside an alarming 650% spike in global fatalities resulting from terrorism, around the world.  ISD’s research has demonstrated how opposing ideological movements -  Islamist and Extreme Right – are bolstering each other’s narratives and emulating each other’s tactics. We have also provided evidence of the successful internationalisation and connectedness of groups that seek to divide. The impact on communal relations, and indeed on electoral outcomes, should be of real concern to us all.
 
This past year, we continued to innovate, test and deliver real-world solutions, substantially expanding our policy advisory, training, education, data analytics, tech and communications programming across four continents. We have reached millions of people online, scaled our direct online interventions with extremists, grown our Strong Cities Network to 120 cities and engaged and trained thousands of youth activists, frontline practitioners, municipal officials, teachers and social workers, providing tools and resources to help turn the tide on hate and polarisation. See ISD's 2017 highlights below. 
 
On behalf of our amazing, growing team here at ISD, whether in the UK, the US, Canada, Jordan or Lebanon, we want to thank you for your continued support and partnership, without which our work would not be possible.
 
So much more needs to be done, and as we look ahead to 2018, we look forward to working -  together - to make 2018 a more peaceful, hopeful year!
 
With thanks and warmest wishes from us all for the festive season!
Sasha Havlicek, CEO

• YouthCAN activist network expanded to MENA region:  thousands of youth activists from 127 countries trained and engaged in co-creating campaigns (read more)
• Strong Cities Network grows to 120 cities around the world: forging and delivering training around the world, including Canada, Pakistan and Senegal (read more)
• Expansion of AVE (Against Violent Extremism) network to the US: in partnership with the Gen Next Foundation, AVE’s expansion to the US got underway with a training module delivered to Seattle PD
• Established first of their kind Local Prevention Networks across the Middle East: via our Strong Cities Network to build local capacity to address extremism (read more)
• Hosted counter-extremism policy chiefs from across the globe at our 21st and 22nd PPN (Policy Planners Network) meetings in Toronto and Málaga: addressing local engagement and the challenges of offline and online interventions (read more)
• Launched ISD in Canada: strengthening our network across North America with government, key influencers and NGOs in the region (read more)
• Launched ministerial recommendations to counter the use of social media by violent extremist groups: ISD’s facilitation of the GCTF workstream on the internet and social media saw the adoption at the UN General Assembly of the London-Zurich Recommendations (read more)