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

Compiling lived experience and expert opinion to advance the discussion around climate change and insecurity

Compiling lived experience and expert opinion to advance the discussion around climate change and insecurity

10 March 2026

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.

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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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Activities

Expert Workshop on the Implementation of Rabat Good Practices 12-15 in the Sahel Region

Expert Workshop on the Implementation of Rabat Good Practices 12-15 in the Sahel Region

30-31 March 2016

The objectives of the workshop were to bring together criminal justice stakeholders, international experts and representatives from regional and multilateral organizations in order to raise awareness of and further advance the implementation of the Rabat Memo’s good practices relevant to the criminalization of terrorist activities (Good Practices 12-15). The meeting included discussions on best practices and lessons learned regarding the criminalization of preparatory acts and lead Sahel states to identify any outstanding needs they may have regarding legal frameworks and developing plans of actions to address these gaps.

Key themes of discussion included:

  • Progress in developing national counterterrorism legal frameworks across the Sahel region.
  • The challenge of better trained and specialized law enforcement personnel.
  • Effective regional cooperation to enable prosecution and criminalization of terrorist acts.
  • Harmonized legal frameworks within the Sahel region to help foster regional cooperation.

Documents to download

More links

Sahel Region Moving Forward on Border Security

Sahel Region Moving Forward on Border Security

DAKAR - Senegal - Under the auspices of the joint United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) – Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) Border Security Initiative (BSI), the Government of Senegal hosted the UNCCT-GCTF BSI Regional Workshop on the Sahel, on 11-12 May 2016, in Dakar.

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. 

 GCTF Insights

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