Aichatou Lassane Zerma holds a master's degree in Theory and Practice of Human Rights from Institute of Human Rights in Lyon.  Aichatou is one of the youngest practitioners in Niger active in CVE program management and engaged in networking with other young Africans to raise awareness and counter violent extremism. Aichatou managed the National Endowment for Democracy-funded countering violent extremism program implemented in collaboration with National Democratic Institute and HACP. She conducted field activities in Northern Tillaberi and Agadez. Her interest in peace and countering violent extremist stems from her education and background in conflict prevention and mitigation. Since 2018, Aichatou has been an active member of ADEPE/F Espoir, an organization that works in the promotion and protection of women and children's rights. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Preventing Radicalization and Violent Extremism

The project contributed to a program coordinated by the National Coordination Center for Early Warning and Security Risk Response Mechanism in collaboration with the Niger Students Union. This raised students’ awareness on radicalization and preventing violent extremist organizations' influence and recruitment among students in eight universities. The project specifically supported activities in the Tillaberi region’s university and reached 400 hundred students and 20 faculty and administrative staff. The main activities included a conference with an open debate on radicalization, violent extremist organizations' recruitment tactics and countering disinformation and misinformation. Local and regional experts were selected to present on the conference themes.

 

"The themes were well chosen because they fit with the contemporary context in which we live. The speakers were experts of great eloquence, which obviously allowed us to be well edified and made us ambassadors in the fight against misinformation, strategies of recruitment of youth, violent extremism and radicalization." - Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Aichatou was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Violent Extremism - Community Strategies, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually 

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; Madison, WI

Country: Niger

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