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

Building capacity to deradicalize and rehabilitate former terrorists in East Africa

Building capacity to deradicalize and rehabilitate former terrorists in East Africa

16 October 2024

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group held a workshop to discuss DDRR efforts in the region. 

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Ministers renew Forum’s commitment to Africa

Ministers renew Forum’s commitment to Africa

27 September 2024

Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty and the EU HE/VP Josep Borrell convened ministers of the GCTF Coordinating Committee and the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security to discuss the evolving terrorist threat in Africa. Read more »

Global Counterterrorism Forum Ministers Renew Commitment to Combating Terrorism in Africa

PRESS RELEASE

The Global Counterterrorism Forum held its 24th Coordinating Committee and 14th Ministerial Plenary Meetings in New York City. The high-level meetings brought together international stakeholders to address pressing counterterrorism needs, particularly in East and West Africa. Read more »
The GCTF’s plan to tackle terrorism in East Africa

The GCTF’s plan to tackle terrorism in East Africa

25 September 2024

The East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group (EA WG) Co-Chairs, Kenya and Kuwait’s 2024-2026 Work Plan will embark on an ambitious journey to galvanize the GCTF capacity and convening power to support countries of East Africa in their fight against terrorism.

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Activities

Sahel Region Moving Forward on Border Security

Sahel Region Moving Forward on Border Security

11-12 May 2016

The workshop built on the UNCCT-UNCTED 2013 Rabat Conference, the Inaugural Conference of the UNCCT-GCTF BSI in El Jadida (July 2105), as well as good practices compiled at the experts meeting in Cairns, Australia (August 2015), in Vienna, Austria (September 2015) and the UNCCT-GCTF BSI First Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya (December 2015). 

The objective of the workshop was to bring together border officials from countries in the region and international border security and management experts to further discuss identified challenges and potential good practices in the area of cross-border cooperation. The discussions helped the development of a global non-binding good practices document. These good practices will be presented and adopted at the Tenth GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting and the Seventh Ministerial Plenary Meeting in New York in September 2016. 

Key themes of discussion included:

  • Improved border security and management will impact the national security of countries in the Sahel region. 

  • Interagency and cross-border cooperation is key for an effective BSM policy. 

  • There is need for improved capacities and coordination of capacity-building programs in the field of BSM in the Sahel region.

  • Improved emphasis on legal framework and administrative mechanisms at national level is key for a structured national BSM approach. 

  • Border demarcation issues affect overall border security and management measures. 

  • Engagement with border communities is a key contributor to effective border security and management.

More links

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

ALGIERS - Algeria - The Co-Chairs of the Sahel Capacity Building (Sahel) Working Group, Algeria and Canada, in collaboration with the Co-Chairs of the Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group, Egypt and the United States (US), organized a workshop focusing on the Rabat Memorandum’s good practices related to legal frameworks as a way to promote rule of law-compliant responses to terrorism in the Sahel region. 

UN Counter-Terrorism Centre – GCTF Border Security Initiative Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa

UN Counter-Terrorism Centre – GCTF Border Security Initiative Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – Under the auspices of the joint United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) – GCTF Border Security Initiative (BSI), the Government of Kenya hosted the first Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa (HOA), on 3-4 December 2015, in Nairobi.

 GCTF Insights

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