A/HRC/42/42/Add.1 92. The delegation also met with the interfaith platform of religious leaders and commended the work they were doing with their members and the public, including young people, to prevent violent extremism, radicalization and the association of young people with armed groups. 93. A new centre on countering violent extremism was established and is run by a nongovernmental entity. It focuses on education and awareness-raising among local communities about radicalization. Staff from the centre conducted a visit to Baga Sola to assess the situation there, particularly focusing on persons associated with armed groups who had repented or surrendered. They met with over 200 individuals (men, women and children), several of whom had been abducted by Boko Haram and who had escaped back to their communities. 94. The Working Group is aware that often those who have escaped from armed groups, particularly young girls, have been placed in transitional and orientation centres to receive care and to be supported in reintegrating into their communities. It notes that care and support should also be provided even after these individuals are sent back to their communities. Traditional leaders and a support network of family and friends play an important role in ensuring that these individuals are successfully reintegrated. 95. Deradicalization requires multisectoral engagements and collaboration at the community level and at the policy level. More work needs to be done, including through a training curriculum that provides counter-narratives to violent extremist ideologies. Capacity-building for and early identification of those likely to be radicalized is important. The delegation notes that those who have been associated with armed groups urgently need psychosocial support and peer-to-peer support to eliminate stigmatization and social exclusion, which can place these individuals at further risk of being radicalized. Addressing the marginalization of groups that are vulnerable to radicalized thinking can also be preventative. Livelihood and employment opportunities, and training in entrepreneurial skills with clear economic benefits, will help individuals avoid being lured to obtain wealth through illicit means, including through engagement with armed groups. The Working Group also observed the critical importance of the members of the interfaith platform of religious leaders working together and with their communities, particularly young people. 96. The Government and the interfaith platform of religious leaders have engaged in activities that have brought adherents of the main three faiths together to observe a national prayer day and to discuss ways in which they can strengthen social cohesion and ensure against their members falling victim to violent extremism. The platform has also engaged with similar initiatives in neighbouring countries, to learn from each other’s experiences and better understand how to engage the local communities. Some of the religious leaders admitted that there was a generational gap and disconnect with the young people of Chad today, who make up almost half of the national population. That generation needed to feel empowered, to be provided with employment and economic opportunities to develop their country, in order to safeguard them from being drawn into violent extremist groups or mercenarism and criminal activities. 97. Among other steps taken to prevent violent extremism, the Government has revoked the legal charters of what it identified as extremist-leaning associations and religious organizations. Robust, nationwide media campaigns would assist in publicizing counternarratives to violent extremism. Since the Internet is not widely available in Chad, the Government should also hold regular nationwide discussions and implement programmes to counter violent extremism. Such initiatives need to be easily accessible to the public, taking into account that much of the population is illiterate and poor. Prioritizing the human rights approach 98. The Working Group recognizes that Chad is at an important crossroads, having made enormous strides to strengthen national security and adopt new legislation that strengthens the legal framework to safeguard against human rights violations. Much of the discussions held during the visit focused on security measures and the armed conflict situations affecting the country. The Working Group is fully aware that the humanitarian crisis in Chad still requires robust international support, by way of technical assistance and through much- 15