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

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.

Tags: Detention and Reintegration Working Group DRWG prison security and risk management countering radicalization in prisons DRWG Work Plan

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).

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