Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

MULTILATERAL EFFORTS TO COUNTER TERRORISM
In 2012, the United States continued to work with key partners and allies to strengthen our
diplomatic engagement through multilateral organizations. By deepening and broadening the
international multilateral counterterrorism framework, we are drawing on the resources and
strengthening the activities of multilateral institutions at the international, regional, and subregional
levels to counter the threat of violent extremists and build the capacities of countries
around the world. Working with and through these institutions increases the engagement of our
partners, reduces the financial burden on the United States, and enhances the legitimacy of our
counterterrorism efforts.
The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). The GCTF is composed of a strategic-level
Coordinating Committee and five thematic and regional expert-driven working groups focusing
on the criminal justice sector and rule of law; countering violent extremism; and capacity
building in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Southeast Asia. The GCTF aims to strengthen the
international architecture for addressing 21st century terrorism and promotes a strategic, longterm
approach to dealing with the threat. Since its launch in September 2011 by then-Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the GCTF has
mobilized over US $200 million to strengthen counterterrorism-related rule of law institutions, in
particular, for countries transitioning away from emergency law.
Other accomplishments since the launch include the adoption of three sets of good practices that
are intended to both provide practical guidance for countries as they seek to enhance their
counterterrorism capacity and bring greater strategic coherence to global counterterrorism
capacity building efforts:
The Rabat Memorandum on Good Practices for Effective Counterterrorism Practice in
the Criminal Justice Sector;
The Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of
Violent Extremist Offenders; and
The Algiers Memorandum on Preventing and Denying the Benefits of Kidnappings for
Ransom to Terrorists.
In addition, the GCTF has set in motion the development of two international training centers
that will provide platforms for delivering sustainable training in the Forum’s two areas of
strategic priority: countering violent extremism and strengthening rule of law institutions. At the
December GCTF ministerial meeting, the UAE Foreign Minister announced the opening of
Hedayah – the International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in Abu
Dhabi. At the June 2012 ministerial, Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem announced
that Tunisia would host the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law. The Institute
will provide interested governments with the training necessary to strengthen criminal justice and
other rule of law institutions. GCTF members are working closely with the Government of
Tunisia on the development of the Institute.
The UN is a close partner of and participant in the GCTF and its activities. The GCTF serves as a
mechanism for furthering the implementation of the universally-agreed UN Global Counter-
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