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

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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Enhancing counterterrorism networks in West Africa

Enhancing counterterrorism networks in West Africa

24 September 2024

The West Africa Capacity-Building Working Group (WA WG) will continue to foster strong counterterrorism networks in the region to tackle terrorism and implement its 2024-2026 work plan. Read more »
Building Resilience: Reflections from the GCTF REMVE Toolkit Workshop on Challenges in the Nordic Countries

Building Resilience: Reflections from the GCTF REMVE Toolkit Workshop on Challenges in the Nordic Countries

19-20 June 2024

The Awareness Raising & Operationalizing the GCTF "Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism (REMVE)”* Toolkit Initiative leads, the United States and Norway, recently held a two-day workshop, hosted by Norway, 19-20 June 2024, in Oslo and at Utøya, where a far right extremist on 22nd July 2011 conducted domestic terrorist attacks that killed 77 individuals.

The interactive workshop brought a variety of stakeholders together to further enhance the GCTF REMVE Toolkit’s good practices and recommendations. The interactive workshop allowed participants to exchange perspectives on the rapidly evolving REMVE threats conducive to terrorism and draw lessons learned from Nordic countries’ experiences with REMVE.

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Activities

Initiative on the Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context - Inaugural Meeting

Initiative on the Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context - Inaugural Meeting

8-9 December 2016

Launched at the GCTF Seventh Ministerial Plenary Meeting in New York on 21 September 2016, the STI aims to raise awareness, identify needs, and leverage expertise and experiences to better protect soft targets (locations that are relatively vulnerable to a terrorist attack due to their open access and limited security barriers) and to develop a set of internationally-recognized non-binding good practices, which can serve as the basis for international engagement, assistance, and training to enhance the security and resilience of sites that are potential soft targets.  

 

Some of the key themes of the meeting’s discussion included:
 

  • Identify what constitutes a ST and categorize and prioritize them in accordance with risk management;

  • Advocate for improved preparedness and training as means to promote vigilance, prevention, and protection;

  • Facilitate dialogue with the private sector to promote peer-to-peer cooperation and integration of safety and security measures.

 GCTF Insights

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