The 21st GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting has come to a successful close, where the Co-Chairs highlighted the Strategic Priorities for a more inclusive, action-oriented GCTF. One that is responsive to changing needs on the ground: an enhanced geographical focus on Africa, whilst not losing sight of the challenges elsewhere; outreach to a broad range of actors, including other international organizations and civil society; promoting women’s participation across the criminal justice chain and gender-sensitive policies. The Meeting also brought a change of Co-Chair to the forum from Morocco to Egypt where gratitude was expressed to Morocco and Egypt warmly welcomed. The Co-Chairs are bringing a refreshed outlook on the Forum's activities, and are confident in the direction of the Forum’s future, strengthened by the support of the GCTF Members and partners.
According to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index, terrorist attacks became more deadly in 2022, killing on average 1.7 people per attack in 2022, compared to 1.3 deaths per attack in 2021. While there has been an overall reduction in the impact of terrorism globally, the African continent continues to be home to violence. Despite considerable efforts, the relative gains achieved through militarized approaches have not managed to stop the spiral of terrorism and violence in the region. The GCTF Co-Chairs, Egypt and the European Union, with the support of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), organized an in-person side event prior to the 21st GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting to help bring forth real cases and challenges to the Forum, and work towards a sustainable, comprehensive approach to counterterrorism and the prevention of violent extremism.
Rehabilitating and reintegrating FTFs and their family members is complex on social, security and human rights dimensions. To gain a better understanding, collective dialogue and information exchange on capacity building and on the strengthening of good practices tailored to local contexts and human security perspectives, is essential.
On 2 May, an interactive, in-person side event was made possible by the Foreign Terrorist Fighter Working Group (FTF WG), co-chaired by the United States and Jordan, and the Countering Violent Extremism Working Group (CVE WG), co-chaired by Australia and Indonesia, on the margins of the 21st GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
Judicial independence includes the duty and ability of a judge to decide each case on the basis of an objective evaluation of evidence that is presented, and an impartial application of the law, without the influence of outside factors – to ensure that the fundamental rights of all parties to a case have been fully respected. The Plenary Meeting of the GCTF Criminal Justice and Rule of Law (CJ-ROL) Working Group is the first under the Working Group Co-Chairs, Italy and Nigeria. The meeting provides an opportunity for the Co-Chairs to present the Working Group’s main priority areas, and for the participants to reflect on current practices and provide strategic guidance.
The Countering Violent Extremism Working Group (CVE WG) hosted its fifth workshop under its Initiative on Funding and Enabling P/CVE initiatives at the Community Level, supported by GCERF as implementing partner. This session builds on the fourth workshop that highlighted knowledge and best practice sharing in the funding and enablement of local P/CVE initiatives.
Terrorist groups’ activities transcends national borders. The transnational nature of the terrorist threat requires strong interagency cooperation, regionally and nationally, to prevent and counter terrorism. The GCTF West Africa Working Group Co-Chairs, Algeria, and Germany, organized the “Strengthening National and Regional Cooperation in the Security and Justice Sectors to Counter Terrorism in West Africa” regional meeting to discuss ways to strengthen national and regional cooperation in the security and justice sectors to prevent and counter terrorism in the West African region.
During the recent GCTF consultation for the UNOCT Gender and Identity Factors Platform, supported and co-led by Global Affairs Canada, a deep dive was done into understanding the relationship of gender and identity factors in P/CVE efforts. These two consultations aimed to improve the platform and build upon the close cooperation and mutually reinforcing partnership between the GCTF and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.
The impact of the rapid evolution and proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are far-reaching. The launch event of the Initiative, “Operationalize the Berlin Memorandum”, led by the United Kingdom and United States, will help bring to life the twenty-six recommendations within the Berlin Memorandum.