Publication

This report explores the complexity surrounding the rehabilitation and reintegration of people exiting violent extremist conflict, with an emphasis on building capacity for community responses. Key insights include 1) that repatriating, rehabilitating, and reintegrating people who traveled to join ISIS requires an approach that draws on preventing and countering violent extremism, peacebuilding, and public health practices to address the social, structural, and cognitive drivers of violent extremism; 2) sustained, positive, inclusive community engagement is needed to address cognitive perceptions of marginalization and dehumanization, which can contribute to violent radicalization and recidivism; 3) the inherently social component to reintegration requires building capacity for families and communities to absorb returning persons in an inclusive way, and more.