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

PRESS RELEASE: Kenya and Kuwait join the Global Counterterrorism Forum, strengthening multilateral security and counterterrorism efforts

PRESS RELEASE: Kenya and Kuwait join the Global Counterterrorism Forum, strengthening multilateral security and counterterrorism efforts

20 September 2023

20 SEPTEMBER 2023, NEW YORK | The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) – a platform for multilateral engagement to prevent and counter terrorism – held its twice yearly Coordinating Committee and annual Ministerial meetings on 18 and 20 September. The Forum’s Co-Chairs, Egypt, and the European Union, welcomed Kenya and Kuwait as new GCTF members. This first ever expansion of the Forum reflects the commitment to increasing multilateral cooperation and strengthening regional counterterrorism efforts in Africa and the Middle East. Ministers exchanged views on national experiences on the rehabilitation and reintegration of former terrorists. Over the course of the three days, over 150 Ministers, senior counterterrorism and criminal justice officials, and practitioners from more than thirty countries and civil society came together to discuss the current global terrorism threats and responses. Read more »
Launching the BSM Initiative at the side event held on the margins of the 22nd Coordinating Committee Meeting & 13th Ministerial Meeting, together with UNOCT

Launching the BSM Initiative at the side event held on the margins of the 22nd Coordinating Committee Meeting & 13th Ministerial Meeting, together with UNOCT

19 September 2023

The dynamic and complex nature of known or suspected terrorist flows across land, air, and maritime boundaries requires a more comprehensive and holistic approach involving many stakeholders. The GCTF FTF Working Group (Jordan and the United States), together with UNOCT launched the BSM initiative on the margins of the 22nd Coordinating Committee Meeting & 13th Ministerial Meeting in New York.

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Launching the NLC Toolkit and the Framework Document on Recommendations for Funding and Enabling Community-level P/CVE

Launching the NLC Toolkit and the Framework Document on Recommendations for Funding and Enabling Community-level P/CVE

19 September 2023

There is a growing concern of increased polarization in our societies and its connection to violent extremism. To tackle this phenomenon, useful tools and guidance were developed to support capacity building and stronger cooperation at the national and local levels through two initiatives led by the GCTF CVE Working Groups Co-Chairs, Australia and Indonesia. They were presented and endorsed by the GCTF Members during the 22nd GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting (18 September) and the 13th  Ministerial Plenary Meeting (20 September).

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GCTF Co-Chairs highlight the driving role of women in responding to terrorism and violent extremism

GCTF Co-Chairs highlight the driving role of women in responding to terrorism and violent extremism

19 September 2023

The GCTF Co-Chairs, Egypt and the European Union, held a side event on the margins of the 22nd Coordinating Committee and 13th Ministerial Meeting to underscore the extraordinary efforts of women in driving peace and innovation to counterterrorism and prevent and counter violent extremism. Read more »
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Activities

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

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

26 May 2016

In order to increase the awareness of legal implications and considerations regarding the rehabilitation and reintegration of returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTFs) and Violent Extremist Offenders (VEOs), the GCTF’s Detention and Reintegration (DR) Working Group and the Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group convened a joint meeting, together with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in Turin. The meeting aimed to develop an addendum to the Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders.

During this expert-level meeting, criminal justice practitioners as well as rehabilitation and reintegration experts reviewed and discussed specific legal framework issues regarding rehabilitation and reintegration efforts in custodial and non-custodial settings.Based on the outcomes of the meeting, a draft addendum to the Rome Memorandum will be prepared and adopted at the Tenth GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting and the Seventh Ministerial Plenary Meeting in New York in September 2016.

Tags: Detention and Reintegration Working Group DRWG Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law Working Group United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Res UNICRI

Documents to download

More links

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. 

Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context

NAXXAR - Malta - Under the auspices of the GCTF’s Criminal Justice and Rule of Law 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 expert meeting on Juvenile Justice in a Counterterrorism Context on 10-12 November 2015, in Naxxar, Malta. 

Second Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Plenary Meeting

Second Detention and Reintegration Working Group - Plenary Meeting

SYDNEY - Australia - On 2-3 November 2015, Australia hosted the GCTF’s Detention and Reintegration Working Group second plenary meeting in Sydney.

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).

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