(TAP)- The Maghreb Economic Forum (MEF) is holding in Tunis on April 11-12 a conference on the theme: "Inclusion: An Approach to Reinforce Youth Deradicalisation."

MEF Secretary-General Amel Karboul shed light, at the opening works, on dangers of extremism and means to prevent and fight it.

"We are not doing enough in terms of resources and policies in the fields of deradicalisation and preventing extremism," she said.

Security Director of penitentiary units at prison and rehabilitation institutions Sami Ennar spoke about the role of prisons in rehabilitation, noting that a programme dubbed "TAWASOL" is being developed to rehabilitate prisoners, improve detention conditions in prison facilities and develop methods of preventing polarisation among inmates and prison staff.

"There is wilingness to schedule cultural, entertainment and sport activities for prisoners that involve their families, in the aim of narrowing the gap between prisons and the outside community," he said.

Ambassador of Canada to Tunisia Carol McQueen talked about her country’s intention to take part in this deradicalisation process, through financing multiple training programmes for youth as well as for imams, to promote a culture of peace and serenity.

Commenting on terrorist attacks in Tunisia, McQueen said "Tunisia is a very peaceful country. I think when these terrible events happened, many were taken by surprise."

On the sidelines of the conference, Amel Karboul told TAP as she answered a question about the government’s role in deradicalisation "the matter starts with education, especially in early childhood, through promoting tolerance for difference."

Karboul also said "many poor people, who were marginalised, didn’t turn out to be extremists. It is not a matter of wealth, but rather a matter of inclusion within society."

"Many people lost faith in political leaders and political parties, but voting is the only way to change reality," she highlighted, urging people to register to vote in the 2019 elections and to vote according to social and economic programmes.