16 and 17 April 2024
The evolving nature of terrorist travel and illicit activities due to porous, uncontrolled borders, poses multi-faceted challenges for governments to manage. A multilateral and coordinated approach to BSM is key in addressing the myriad of threats and challenges.
The GCTF Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative Leads Jordan, the United States and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), convened the second BSM Initiative workshop on 16 and 17 April in Rome, Italy, to continue to develop the Addendum to 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 (FTFs).
Through panel discussions and interactive tabletop exercises, the in-person, interactive workshop enabled further progress to be made on the Addendum. The aim is to present the Addendum at the 24th GCTF Coordinating Committee Meeting in September 2024 and also update a comprehensive Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Manual to help governments and UN entities in their work to develop and modernize their border security training efforts.
Prior to this workshop, the Leads conducted a series of exploratory dialogues to gather input from subject matter experts, practitioners, civil society and academia on best practices to highlight in the Addendum.
The 2016 GCTF Good Practices document offers guidance to governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector as they develop policies, guidelines, programs, and approaches to enhance BSM practices.
The BSM Initiative seeks to review the current good practices, update and strengthen the 2016 Good Practices document, and develop a comprehensive Training-of-Trainers Manual. It also acknowledges the evolving threat landscape and the importance of human rights and rule-of-law-based, whole-of-society counterterrorism approaches. The Initiative will further stress the importance of civilian and partner-led frameworks rooted in diplomacy, multilateral partnerships, and enhanced capacity.
