Since the inaugural 2018 Global Security Forum, the annual gathering, organized by The Soufan Center, has convened thousands of officials and experts from dozens of countries. Bringing together participants from diverse national and professional backgrounds, the Global Security Forum provides a unique opportunity for researchers, public officials, policymakers, diplomats, academics, intelligence, military, law enforcement professionals, and journalists to come together with governments to discuss the world’s leading security challenges.

The Global Security Forum’s Overview and Findings Report compiles key insights from the conference, drawing from the rich and diverse expertise on offer each year. These reports provide an overview, as well as a strategic assessment of the security matters and policy recommendations discussed to meet the range of security challenges addressed each year. The findings and recommendations fostered by discussions at the Global Security Forum have been presented to key stakeholders at prestigious international meetings and events from across the globe, including before the United Nations, European Union (EU), Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), the Global Coalition Against ISIS, among others.

The findings from the 2018 Global Security Forum were included in the 2018 Addendum to the 2015 Madrid Guiding Principles. The discussions and issues raised during the 2018 Forum contributed to the negotiations of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in the development of the Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles. The Committee and its Executive Directorate drew on their ongoing dialogue and engagement with the research community, including exchanges during theForum on Returning Foreign Fighters.

Taking place at United Nations Headquarters on 13 December 2018, a Special Meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on “Security Council Resolution 2396 (2017): Review of the Madrid Guiding Principles” took place. The Soufan Center was invited to participate in a session on ‘Global Research Perspectives on Cross-Cutting Trends, Issues, Developments, and Threats,’. Representing The Soufan Center, Ali Soufan briefed the United Nations Security Council and shared the findings and recommendations from the Forum on Returning Foreign Fighters.

The Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations and CTED organized a briefing “Perspectives of CTED’s Global Research Network (GRN) and the Forum on Returning FTFs in Advance of the Review of the Madrid Guiding Principles.”

The Soufan Center was honored to participate in a roundtable discussion at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on ‘How to Effectively Fight Terrorist Threats,’ hosted by Member of the European Parliament Ramona Mănescu. The findings from the 2018 Global Security Forum were presented in Brussels.

On 12 March 2019, the “Foreign Terrorist Fighters” (FTF) Working Group held a Plenary Meeting in
Malaga, Spain on the margins of the GCTF Coordinating Committee meeting. The Soufan Center briefed on the outcomes of the Forum on Returning Foreign Fighters, held in October 2018 in Doha, Qatar.

The Soufan Center was honored to present at the Global Coalition Against Daesh/ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighters Working Group Meeting held in Ankara, Turkey, on 7 May 2019. The Soufan Center briefed on the outcomes and recommendations of the Forum on Returning Foreign Fighters, held in October 2018 in Doha, Qatar.