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

Employing strategic communications to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

Employing strategic communications to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

28 January 2026

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group led an activity to strengthen strategic communications for online P/CVE efforts in the region.

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Aligning efforts to enhance oversight and accountability mechanisms in counterterrorism operations

Aligning efforts to enhance oversight and accountability mechanisms in counterterrorism operations

11 December 2025

The GCTF Oversight and Accountability in Counterterrorism Initiative officially launched the Brussels Memorandum on Good Practices for Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Counterterrorism. Read more »
Promoting education as a key pillar in preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

Promoting education as a key pillar in preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

4 December 2025

Led by the European Union and Morocco, the Initiative on Education for the Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism held a conference to mark its conclusion and present resources, findings, and lessons learned.

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Strengthening local capacities and community engagement to resist violent extremism conducive to terrorism in West Africa

Strengthening local capacities and community engagement to resist violent extremism conducive to terrorism in West Africa

20 November 2025

The West Africa Capacity-Building Working Group organized a regional meeting to promote community engagement efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

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Activities

Ninth GCTF Ministerial Plenary Meeting

Ninth GCTF Ministerial Plenary Meeting

27 September 2018

In the Joint UN-GCTF Ministerial Statement adopted during this meeting, the Ministers of the GCTF Members together with the United Nations reaffirmed their commitment to the joint international fight against terrorism and violent extremism. In addition, the Ministerial Meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of the Forum’s efforts and achievements, discuss its priorities and highlight future Initiatives and activities to be launched under its auspices. As GCTF Co-Chairs, Morocco and the Netherlands are determined to continue promoting the GCTF’s role in a strategic, long-term civilian approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism.

This year’s Ministerial Meeting focused in particular on deepening the close and ongoing cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and the GCTF. The Forum remains strongly committed to support and catalyze the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the broader UN CT framework.

Members endorsed four new GCTF Framework Documents addressing: Homegrown Terrorism, the Challenge of Returning Families of FTFs, the Collection, Use and Sharing of Evidence for Purposes of Criminal Prosecution of Terrorist Suspects, and the Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism.

Documents to download

More links

 GCTF Insights

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