The FTF Knowledge Hub was developed by researchers at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and the ICCT, with contributions from the United States and Jordan as co-chairs of the GCTF FTF Working Group.
It builds on the previous Foreign Terrorist Fighters Knowledge Hub hosted by and developed under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) and is inspired by the GCTF’s Framework Documents, The Hague-Marrakech Memorandum on Good Practices for a More Effective Response to the FTF Phenomenon, its Addendum focusing on Returning FTFs and the Good Practices on Addressing the Challenge of Returning Families of Foreign Terrorist Fighters.
In its new form, the FTF Knowledge Hub is completely independent from its predecessor. Information has been gathered via credible open-source research and does not bind in any way the GCTF and its Members, the Asser Institute or the ICCT.
The FTF Knowledge Hub can be used as a go-to place for information related to FTFs, which could be defined as ‘individuals who travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts or the providing or receiving of terrorist training, including in connection with armed conflict’ (UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014)).
The Hub currently focuses on individuals who have left their country of residence or nationality to join terrorist or violent extremist groups in Syria and Iraq, in particular ISIL/Da’esh. It also includes information on relocators and returnees, as well as associated family members of these individuals.
Navigating the Hub, you will find data on the main FTF trends, as well as countries’ responses to their citizens and residents joining terrorist or violent extremist groups, such as ISIL/Da’esh, their legal framework governing these responses, and additional resources. In the future, information from other countries, and pertaining to other conflict zones, may be added.
Via the tabs at the top of the page, you will be able to access relevant international standards and guidance concerning FTFs, a library of academic research and policy briefs, and a policy matrix. This matrix is an interactive visualization outlining preventive, administrative, criminal, and surveillance measures, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration measures implemented by countries.
Clicking on the flag icons, you will land on individual country pages where all FTF-related data and information for the given country are gathered. You can download PDF versions of the individual country pages by clicking on the PDF icon at the top of each page. Within these PDF versions of the country pages, the sources underlying the data points are also visible.
Access the full resource here.
