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

Expanding the GCTF Initiative to Operationalize the Berlin Memorandum to include new and emerging technologies related to UAS

Expanding the GCTF Initiative to Operationalize the Berlin Memorandum to include new and emerging technologies related to UAS

24 October 2023

The United Kingdom and the United States are hosting a series of webinars as part of a new Initiative, the GCTF Counter-Unmanned Ariel Systems and New, Emerging, and Disruptive Technologies Initiative. The new Initiative aims to provide a better understanding of the pros and cons of Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) use with a specific focus on emerging technological developments and includes the potential security impact of key types of emerging technologies.

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Partnership Consultation reinforces Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and UN Global CT Compact partnership

Partnership Consultation reinforces Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and UN Global CT Compact partnership

12 October 2023

The partnership consultation between the GCTF and the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact reinforced engagement on global approaches to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the UN CT Framework more broadly, to increase the impact of actions on the ground and explore approaches to new and emerging threats. Read more »
Insightful conversations with the Inspired Institutions bringing renewed energy to current and new efforts.

Insightful conversations with the Inspired Institutions bringing renewed energy to current and new efforts.

10 October 2023

The partnership dialogues with the GCTF Inspired Institutions – Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), Hedayah, and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) – helped bring renewed insights to activities underway. Active discussions on joint activities, shared priorities, and collectively tackling even more effectively terrorism and violent extremism efforts as well as innovative approaches to enhance collaborations and cooperation explored. Read more »
Gaining insights into how the good practices to a fair trial are being implemented in terrorism trials around the world

Gaining insights into how the good practices to a fair trial are being implemented in terrorism trials around the world

20 September 2023

GCTF CJROL Working Group and the IIJ’s CT PHARE facility, collaborate on the right to a fair trial, to be able to examine an accused person’s journey along the entire justice chain. The side event was held on margins of the 22nd Coordinating Committee Meeting and the 13th Ministerial Meeting in New York, where insights were shared from the recently held survey with experts and practitioners.

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Activities

Initiative on the Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context - Inaugural Meeting

Initiative on the Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context - Inaugural Meeting

8-9 December 2016

Launched at the GCTF Seventh Ministerial Plenary Meeting in New York on 21 September 2016, the STI aims to raise awareness, identify needs, and leverage expertise and experiences to better protect soft targets (locations that are relatively vulnerable to a terrorist attack due to their open access and limited security barriers) and to develop a set of internationally-recognized non-binding good practices, which can serve as the basis for international engagement, assistance, and training to enhance the security and resilience of sites that are potential soft targets.  

 

Some of the key themes of the meeting’s discussion included:
 

  • Identify what constitutes a ST and categorize and prioritize them in accordance with risk management;

  • Advocate for improved preparedness and training as means to promote vigilance, prevention, and protection;

  • Facilitate dialogue with the private sector to promote peer-to-peer cooperation and integration of safety and security measures.

 GCTF Insights

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