Empowering Civil Society and Survivors
CGCC believes that a vibrant civil society that provides individuals the opportunity to effect change through peaceful means is one of the most powerful anecdotes to the appeal of violent extremism.
CGCC works to highlight the important contributions of civil society to countering terrorism by raising awareness among government officials and civil society groups themselves about these contributions, in particular addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. CGCC has partnered with Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, to raise awareness of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy among civil society groups in Southeast Asia and has undertaken similar efforts in Africa and South Asia.
CGCC also has supported the work of the Global Survivors Network, a leading advocate for the role of survivors in effective counterterrorism efforts. Its groundbreaking documentary film, “Killing in the Name,” received numerous awards and was nominated for an Academy Award as best documentary short in 2011.
Latest
Events
New York / Virtual and HybridThe Second Counter-Terrorism Week and High-Level Conference
The Global Center participated in and hosted events during the UN's Second Counter-Terrorism Week. From 21-30 June 2021, the United Nations organized the Second Counter-Terrorism Week and High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States to accompany the negotiations and adoption of the seventh review of the UN...
Publications
A ‘Whole of Society’ Approach? Exploring Civil Society Inclusion in National Frameworks to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism
This brief explores how civil society is included in national frameworks to prevent and counter violent extremism at different stages of the policy cycle, including in design, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. In doing so, the analysis contributes to a stocktaking of how international recommendations on civil society inclusion are...
Events
New York / Virtual RoundtablesGlobal Center Roundtable Series
The Global Center is hosting a series of interactive, informal roundtable discussions on substantive issues and new developments relating to violent extremism, terrorism, and counterterrorism with guest speakers representing the United Nations, national governments, civil society, and the private sector. These roundtables are part of the Global Center’s work on...
Publications
Blue Sky V: An Independent Analysis of UN Counterterrorism Efforts
This report, the fifth in the “Blue Sky” series, explores how the UN’s comparative advantage can be leveraged to improve the policy development, interagency coordination, delivery, and impact of counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism efforts in support of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It first observes the growth of...
Events
New York / Virtual75th UN General Assembly Highlights
Over the course of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, the Global Center hosted and participated in numerous events and functions aimed at advancing effective policy and practice around countering violent extremism, criminal justice and rule of law, and financial integrity and inclusion....
Project
Ensuring the Effective Implementation of Countering the Financing of Terrorism Measures While Safeguarding Civic Space
In October 2020, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum launched a new initiative to advance the design, implementation, and evaluation of risk-based countering the financing of terrorism policies and practices to ensure they do not negatively affect civic space, human rights, or humanitarian action, co-led by the Netherlands, Morocco, and UN...
Publications
Shrinking Space in the Name of Countering Terrorism: Why the United Nations Must Deliver on Civil Society Commitments
Without meaningful civil society engagement, the UN system’s counterterrorism policy, coordination, technical assistance, and advocacy risk causing more harm than good. This article argues that the United Nations needs to take its commitments to civil society seriously and uphold its do-no-harm principles of engagement in the field, which would require...
Publications
Cooperating With Civil Society to Rehabilitate and Reintegrate Violent Extremist Prisoners
This policy brief explores how government and civil society can advance their cooperation in the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals convicted and imprisoned for violent extremism or terrorism-related offenses. It presents the current state of cooperation between government and civil society in the rehabilitation and reintegration process, then outlines the...
Publications
Enhancing Civil Society Engagement
This paper presents the key findings and recommendations from consultations with civil society organized in connection with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) regional high-level conferences on counterterrorism, in which UNOCT partnered with the Global Center to organize two one-day, civil society–led workshops preceding the last two regional conferences. It...
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