GCTF Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative: The second exploratory discussions delve deeper into the opportunities and challenges of new and emerging technologies in the area of border security and management
To promote an inclusive and collaborative approach towards border security, grounded in international human rights law, the GCTF Foreign Terrorist Fighter Working Group (co-chaired by Jordan and the United States) is partnering with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in the Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative. As part of this Initiative, a series of exploratory dialogues are being conducted with subject matter experts. The second exploratory dialogue was held on 18 January 2024, to garner insights from a diverse group of stakeholders on the opportunities and threats posed by technological advancements in border security and management.
Terrorist groups exploit porous and lengthy borders to facilitate terrorist travel, financing, and other illicit activities. Challenges arise from several hindrances such as inadequate watchlists, border surveillance and security screening systems, as well as ineffective internal and regional information-sharing mechanisms. Although the international community has made significant progress to strengthen border security and management operations and practices, the dynamic and complex nature of known or suspected terrorist flows requires a comprehensive and holistic approach involving various stakeholders.
Building upon existing initiatives, Jordan, and United States, as GCTF FTF Working Group Co-Chairs, together with UNOCT as the Border and Security Management (BSM) Initiative Leads, are hosting a series of Exploratory Dialogues. The aim is to bring together subject matter experts from national governments and law enforcement agencies, international and civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private sector partners to garner expertise and to share knowledge. The second BSM exploratory dialogue was recently held to explore the impact of new and emerging technologies – the opportunities and threats – in relation to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS or drones), Biometrics, 3D printing, and other related technologies.
These dialogues build on the foundation of the GCTF Border Security Initiative (BSI) and 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 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 Border Security and Management (BSM) Initiative seeks to review the current good practices, update and strengthen the existing GCTF Border Security Initiative (BSI) outlined in the 2016 Good Practices document, and develop a comprehensive Training-of-Trainers Manual. It also acknowledges the evolving FTF travel threat landscape since its adoption. Efforts under this BSM Initiative will promote human rights and rule-of-law-based, whole-of-society counterterrorism approaches.
Through its Border Security and Management Programme launched in 2019, UNOCT strengthens Member States’ capacities to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorists and stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).