14 November 2023
The GCTF Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Group and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) are addressing these challenges through the Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative , building on the 2016 GCTF Good Practices in the Area of Border Security and Management in the Context of Counterterrorism and Stemming the Flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters. The primary objective of this initiative is to produce an Addendum to these Good Practices. This Addendum will take into account the changes in the legal, policy, and technological landscape that have occurred over the last several years. It seeks to provide a comprehensive guide to address the challenges that have emerged in the realm of border security and management. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance the existing Training-of-Trainers Manual to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
The discussions addressed the intersection of counterterrorism, human rights, and gender considerations in border security management (BSM). An inclusive security expert panel offered in-depth analysis of contemporary challenges and trends highlighting the relationship between BSM and human rights. An open discussion explored the ethical challenges and considerations in BSM. Panelists and participants shared national strategies, enhanced cooperation, and promoted civil liberties. Guiding questions on human rights, border communities and civil society involvement, as well as safeguarding data, addressed various aspects of security, transparency, and cooperation in the context of border management.
The GCTF BSM initiative, with this dialogue and a series of other events, aims to enhance understanding of the significance of national and regional strategies for Border Security and Management and to promote effective practices in countering the operations of terrorist groups and transnational criminals. This involves preventing the trafficking of various illicit items, such as weapons, ammunition, explosives, drugs, goods, FTFs, and persons who support terrorist groups. Furthermore, the initiative will build capacities through a series of activities to ensure the long-term effectiveness of BSM efforts.
