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

Guide to Effective Border Security and Management

Guide to Effective Border Security and Management

25 September 2024

Two practical accompaniments to the 2016 GCTF Good Practices on Border Security and Management

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Good Practices for Oversight in Counterterrorism

Good Practices for Oversight in Counterterrorism

25 September 2024

A new GCTF Good Practices document on oversight and accountability mechanisms in counterterrorism endorsed during the 24th Coordinating Committee Meeting.

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Tackling Emerging Terrorism Trends and Threats

Tackling Emerging Terrorism Trends and Threats

25 September 2024

The GCTF Coordinating Committee convened for its 24th Meeting. Emerging terrorism threats and trends were discussed, and the GCTF working groups’ priorities to tackle them were identified. The Coordinating Committee endorsed new recommendations and practical guidance tools on counterterrorism oversight and accountability mechanisms and border security and management.

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Supporting Rule of Law-Based Counterterrorism

Supporting Rule of Law-Based Counterterrorism

24 September 2024

The Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group’s achievements and future priorities.

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First5Last

Activities

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

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

29-30 May 2016

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss twelve draft good practices compiled as a result of previous meetings. 

Key themes of discussion included: 

  • While interagency cooperation is key for a successful border security and management (BSM) policy, governments should adopt tailored approaches on parameters to implement this cooperation. 
  • Lack of resources, threats to border communities emanating from FTFs, communities’ protection from terrorist groups and detachment of border communities in remote border areas from the wider community have been identified as key challenges in engagement with border communities and in the field of community border policing.
  • Governments might consider authorizing the local border agencies and liaison officers to interact with their counterparts on the other side of the border as a way of effective information exchange. 
  • Within the context of border surveillance, maritime borders need more attention.
  • Governments need to adopt a balanced approach while employing technology in the field of BSM.

  • Corruption and bribery have been identified as common risks which undermine overall efforts to devise and implement robust BSM policies.

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