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

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Expert Meeting on the Development of a Memorandum on the Use of Rule of Law-Based Administrative Measures in a Counterterrorism Context

Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group - Expert Meeting on the Development of a Memorandum on the Use of Rule of Law-Based Administrative Measures in a Counterterrorism Context

14-15 November 2018

THE HAGUE - the Netherlands - The Expert Meeting on the Development of a Memorandum on the Use of Rule of Law-Based Administrative Measures in a Counterterrorism Context was co-hosted by CJ-RoL Working Group Co-Chairs, Nigeria and Switzerland, with the support of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - The Hague (ICCT). 

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Countering Violent Extremism Working Group - Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons

Countering Violent Extremism Working Group - Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons

2-3 October 2018

MARRAKESH - Morocco - Countering Violent Extremism Working Group Co-Chairs, Australia and Indonesia, in collaboration with the Global Center on Cooperative Security (Global Center), hosted a Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons.

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Initiative on Improving Capabilities for Detecting and Interdicting Terrorist Travel through Enhanced Terrorist Screening and Information Sharing - Launch Event

Initiative on Improving Capabilities for Detecting and Interdicting Terrorist Travel through Enhanced Terrorist Screening and Information Sharing - Launch Event

27 September 2018

NEW YORK - United States - The Co-Leads of the GCTF Initiative on Improving Capabilities for Detecting and Interdicting Terrorist Travel through Enhanced Terrorist Screening and Information Sharing (“Terrorist Travel Initiative”), Morocco and the United States, co-chaired the Launch Event in New York.

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Ninth GCTF Ministerial Plenary Meeting

Ninth GCTF Ministerial Plenary Meeting

27 September 2018

NEW YORK - United States - Today, the Ninth GCTF Ministerial Plenary Meeting was hosted by Morocco and the Netherlands. Read more »
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Activities

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

3-4 December 2015

The workshop built on the 2013 Rabat Conference on border control cooperation in the Sahel and Maghreb and the Inaugural Conference of the BSI, held on 21-22 July 2105 in El Jadida, Morocco, as well as good practices compiled at events in Cairns, Australia in August and Vienna, Austria in September. 

The objective of the workshop was to bring border officials from countries in the region and international border security and management experts together to further discuss identified challenges and potential good practices in the area of cross-border cooperation.

Key themes of discussion included:

  • The level of stability and security in a country or a border area is critically important for the overall success of border security and management policies.

  • High-ranking officials in national agencies dealing with border security and management may not necessarily be as effective as presumed in inter-agency cooperation.

  • Inter-agency coordination process in border security should be inclusive.

  • Mandates and working methods of border security and management agencies need to be revised and up-dated in order to address new risks connected to terrorism.

  • Border demarcation issues affect overall border security and management.

  • Countries need to develop robust social and economic policies that integrate remote border communities into society, aiming to increase inclusiveness.

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

  • The gap between de facto and officially registered refugees is a common challenge in the countries of the HOA region.

  • The countries in the HOA region should be able to benefit from the international databases to enhance their border management.

  • Improved capacities are crucial for a robust border security and management.

Tags: United Nations UN Counter-Terrorism Centre UNCCT Kenya Nairobi Horn of Africa HOA cross-border cooperation transnational challenges First Regional Workshop Border Security Initiative BSI

More links

Horn of Africa Capacity Building Working Group - Plenary Meeting

Horn of Africa Capacity Building Working Group - Plenary Meeting

DJIBOUTI CITY - Djibouti - The GCTF’s Horn of Africa (HOA) Capacity Building Working Group’s Fifth Plenary Meeting convened in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on 2 June 2016.

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.

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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