About the GCTF

The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) is an informal, apolitical, multilateral counterterrorism platform. It is small, nimble, inclusive, and consensus-based. Its overarching mission is to reduce the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by mobilizing expertise and resources to prevent, combat, and prosecute terrorist acts and counter incitement and recruitment to terrorism. 

The Forum brings together policymakers and practitioners from around the world to share experiences and expertise, and to develop practical, publicly available tools and strategies on how to prevent and counter the evolving terrorist threat. The GCTF is currently co-chaired by Egypt and the European Union. 

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What is the GCTF?

News

The recently held Thematic Expert Workshop for the Education for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) Initiative brings invaluable insights and innovation to the domain

The recently held Thematic Expert Workshop for the Education for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) Initiative brings invaluable insights and innovation to the domain

25 April 2024

On 25 April, the GCTF Initiative on Education for the Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, led by the European Union and Morocco, with Hedayah as Implementing Partner, held a Thematic Expert Workshop in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop enabled GCTF Members and experts to exchange insights, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to education as a valuable tool to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism (P/CVE). Read more »
Progress made on the 2016 GCTF Good Practices Addendum during border security and management workshop in Rome.

Progress made on the 2016 GCTF Good Practices Addendum during border security and management workshop in Rome.

16 and 17 April 2024

On 16 and 17 April, the GCTF Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative Leads Jordan, the United States and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), convened the second BSM Initiative workshop in Rome, Italy, to continue to develop the Addendum to the 2016 GCTF Good Practices in the Area of Border Security and Management. The Initiative aims to promote an inclusive and collaborative approach towards border security, grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law.

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Want to be part of the GCTF family? The IIJ is hiring consultants to support research needs for the GCTF CJ-RoL Working Group’s activities!

Want to be part of the GCTF family? The IIJ is hiring consultants to support research needs for the GCTF CJ-RoL Working Group’s activities!

5 April 2024

Vacancies available at the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), a GCTF-Inspired Institution to support the GCTF CJ-RoL Working Group activities

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On International Women’s Day: Spotlighting gender-sensitive approaches to counterterrorism and P/CVE.

On International Women’s Day: Spotlighting gender-sensitive approaches to counterterrorism and P/CVE.

08 March 2024

Women and girls are fundamental in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism. To celebrate International Women’s Day, the GCTF highlights the role of women in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism as well as the extensive work done by the GCTF to promote gender-sensitive approaches in counterterrorism efforts in good practices and toolkits.

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Activities

Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

10-12 November 2015

The conference built on the Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group plenary meeting, held on 13-14 April 2015 in Valletta, Malta, where Switzerland proposed to add Juvenile Justice to the Working Group's Work Plan. The objective of the meeting was to bring together experts (judges, prosecutors, investigators, legislators and representatives from the psycho-social field) from GCTF Members and several organizations to raise awareness about the necessity to link counterterrorism with juvenile justice standards and practices, review existing systems and challenges, and to propose recommendations for strengthening this field of the justice system. 

Key themes of discussion included:

  • The challenge of translating the extensive international legal framework into national law, standards and practice.

  • The dual victim/offender status of a juvenile involved in terrorist activities should always be considered during the implementation of prevention, detention, non-custodial and reintegration measures.

  • The context and the case-by-case basis approach should always be promoted.

  • Investigating and prosecuting a terrorism case involving a child/juvenile requires special procedures to be implemented.

  • The detention of juveniles should always be the measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.

  • Governments and organizations need to move from “countering” violent extremism to “preventing” it.

  • A comprehensive government and community-based approach has to be promoted.

Tags: Juvenile Justice IIJ Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law Working Group CJ-ROL United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Res UNICRI Switzerland Naxxar Malta

More links

Workshop on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTFs)

Workshop on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTFs)

TURIN - Italy - The GCTF’s Detention and Reintegration and Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Groups and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) teamed up with experts in Turin to discuss the ways forward on the rehabilitation and reintegration of returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTFs).

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Plenary Meeting

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Plenary Meeting

NEUCHÂTEL - Switzerland - The Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group (CJ-ROL) will focus on further implementation of good practices highlighted in the Rabat Memorandum. That is one of the strategic outcomes of the Plenary Meeting of this Working Group, held on 3-4 May 2016. 

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Workshop on Identifying and Countering Terrorist Recruiters and Facilitators

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Workshop on Identifying and Countering Terrorist Recruiters and Facilitators

WASHINGTON D.C. - United States - The Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group convened an expert meeting in Washington on 25-26 April to discuss ways to identify and counter terrorist recruiters and facilitators. 

Ninth GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting

Ninth GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting

THE HAGUE - the Netherlands - The GCTF Coordinating Committee convened for its ninth meeting on 12-13 April 2016. Member States and representatives of the GCTF partner organizations reviewed the Forum’s strategic priorities, considered the ongoing and planned initiatives, and reviewed activities since the previous Coordinating Committee Meeting in New York, held on 25 September 2015.

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group - Experts Meeting on Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group - Experts Meeting on Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

TURIN - Italy – Under the auspices of the GCTF’s Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) hosted an experts meeting on Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context on 16-17 February 2016, in Turin, Italy.

Eight GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting

Eight GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting

NEW YORK - United States - On 26 September 2015, the GCTF Coordinating Committee convened in New York for its eighth meeting. Members reviewed the Forum’s strategic priorities, considered ongoing and planned initiatives, and reviewed activities since the previous GCTF Coordinating Committee meeting held on 6-7 May 2015 in Doha, Qatar.

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