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. 

Read more »

What is the GCTF?

News

Enhancing the role of women in preventing and countering violent extremism in East Africa

Enhancing the role of women in preventing and countering violent extremism in East Africa

3 September 2025

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group led an activity to address the current gaps in P/CVE efforts in East Africa that stem from inadequate gender inclusion.

Read more »
Lessons learned on artificial intelligence and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

Lessons learned on artificial intelligence and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

15 July 2025

The Countering Violent Extremism Working Group – co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia – in collaboration with the International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism & Violent Extremism (Hedayah) held a virtual event to discuss the challenges and opportunities of new and emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, when countering extremism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

Read more »
Consolidating stakeholder input and insights to increase understanding of the links between climate change and insecurity

Consolidating stakeholder input and insights to increase understanding of the links between climate change and insecurity

3 June 2025

Led by Germany and Kenya, the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism held a virtual workshop seeking stakeholder input and insights on the links between climate change and insecurity.

Read more »
Training practitioners on motivational disengagement for the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group

Training practitioners on motivational disengagement for the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group

30 May 2025

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group held a training workshop in motivational disengagement for security officers.

Read more »
1Last

Activities

Second Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Plenary Meeting

Second Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Plenary Meeting

2-3 November 2015

Under the co-chairmanship of Australia and Indonesia, participants discussed the DR Working Group’s strategic priorities, considered ongoing and planned initiatives, and reviewed activities since the inaugural plenary meeting in Bali, Indonesia (August 2014). The meeting served as a forum to share challenges, concerns, experiences, expertise, and best practices in building capacity on managing and reintegrating terrorist inmates.

Discussions were broad ranging, covering issues such as prison security and risk management, countering radicalization in prisons, capacity building to manage terrorist inmates, and reintegrating rehabilitated terrorist detainees.

Examples of key cross-cutting themes from the meeting included:

  • Efforts to counter violent extremism (CVE), including through counter-narratives, could be increased inside correction facilities and extended to pre-detention areas.
  • Addressing core issues, including implementing good practices on securing, managing, rehabilitating and reintegrating terrorist offenders.

In addition, the Working Group conducted a desktop exercise that aimed to examine the characteristics of different types of terrorist inmates, including “Foreign Terrorist Fighters” (FTFs), and identify ways to tailor security and detainee management approaches to suit.

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).

Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Workshop on Education, Life Skill Courses and Vocational Training for Incarcerated Violent Extremist Offenders

Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Workshop on Education, Life Skill Courses and Vocational Training for Incarcerated Violent Extremist Offenders

NAIROBI - Kenya - On 7-8 October 2015, the government of Kenya hosted the GCTF’s Detention and Reintegration (DR) Working Group’s “Workshop on Education, Life Skill Courses and Vocational Training for Incarcerated Violent Extremist Offenders.” The workshop was co-chaired by the governments of Australia and Indonesia, and was co-organized by the Global Center on Cooperative Security (Global Center).

 GCTF Insights

Stay informed by following us on our social media channels or sign up to our newsletter.