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

Exploring new criminal justice issues in counterterrorism

Exploring new criminal justice issues in counterterrorism

21 October 2025

Under the mandate of the Co-Chairs, Italy and Nigeria, the Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Group held its annual plenary meeting on the margins of the 25th Coordinating Committee Meeting to discuss recent activities and upcoming priorities, including the intersection of transitional justice and counterterrorism.

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Strengthening international judicial cooperation and evidence handling in terrorism cases

Strengthening international judicial cooperation and evidence handling in terrorism cases

16 October 2025

The East Africa Capacity-Building and Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Working Groups held an expert meeting to discuss existing initiatives and best practices for strengthening international judicial cooperation when countering terrorism.

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Enhancing the role of women in preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

Enhancing the role of women in preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

3 September 2025

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group led an activity to address the current gaps in P/CVE efforts in East Africa that stem from inadequate gender inclusion.

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Lessons learned on artificial intelligence and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

Lessons learned on artificial intelligence and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism

15 July 2025

The Countering Violent Extremism Working Group – co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia – in collaboration with the International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism & Violent Extremism (Hedayah) held a virtual event to discuss the challenges and opportunities of new and emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, when countering extremism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

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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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