terrorist fighters. Recommendations made at the conference included ideas on how the OSCE could have a role in these current challenges. These recommendations served as a the basis for two draft Declarations, adopted later by the Basel Ministerial Meeting, titled The OSCE Role in Addressing the Phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014) and The OSCE Role in Countering Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking Committed by Terrorist Groups in the Context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2133 (2014). Other activities implemented in 2014 by the Action against Terrorism Unit with participation of police and law enforcement representatives are described below. Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism (VERLT) The TNTD and ODIHR have jointly developed the guidebook Preventing Terrorism and Countering VERLT: A Community-Policing Approach, which provides policy guidance on central issues that can have an impact on the success or failure of police efforts to harness a community-policing approach to preventing terrorism and countering VERLT. The guidebook was officially launched on 17 March 2014 with an event attended by several delegations of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation. The publication is available in several languages at http://www.osce.org/atu/111438. Hard copies can be obtained through Conference Services. On 29-30 April 2014, TNTD/ATU and the OSCE Centre in Astana jointly organized a seminar in Almaty on youth engagement to counter VERLT, in co-operation with the Institute of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event brought together over 80 participants from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Anti-Terrorism Centre, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the state agencies in charge of religious affairs and education, as well representatives from the civil society and the media, including the OSCE Central Asian Youth Network. Participants discussed the phenomenon of youth involvement in VERLT and ways to engage youth in countering VERLT through education, the arts, sport and the media; platforms for interaction with local authorities; and law enforcement outreach activities. TNTD/ATU and the Centre in Astana facilitated participation of speakers from Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom and the United States. On 13-14 May 2014, TNTD/ATU organized an international workshop in Istanbul on “Supporting Civil Society Initiatives to Empower Women’s Roles in Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism”, in partnership with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). This was the first joint activity of the GCTF with a regional organization. The event brought together over 80 participants from public authorities and civil society organizations from OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and GCTF member countries. The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies of Turkey. An introductory keynote presentation was delivered by UN Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, which outlined parallels between the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the need to ensure the equal involvement of women in and the promotion and protection of women’s rights while countering VERLT. Participants shared first-hand experience and insights, good practices and challenges in mobilizing and advancing the role of women in countering VERLT. They also discussed the involvement of women in VERLT, whether as members of terrorist groups, supporters or sympathizers. This workshop was the first of two workshops under the 2014 joint OSCE-GCTF initiative mentioned above. 39