21 April 2025, Islamabad - Victims of terrorism face complex legal, emotional, and institutional challenges. Recognising the need for a coordinated, inclusive, and standardised provincial response, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), hosted a three-day workshop in Islamabad from 14-16 April 2025. This workshop focused on the implementation of newly developed victim assistance and protection guidelines in Punjab, to equip provincial officials with the tools and knowledge needed to strengthen support services for victims of terrorism. The event convened 22 participants, including 9 women, from the Home, Social Welfare, Health, Prosecution, and Counter Terrorism Departments of Punjab.
The workshops aim to ensure that national policy is translated into practical support mechanisms at the provincial level. The worktop is part of a nationwide capacity-building series designed to foster uniformity and efficiency in victim support across Pakistan’s provinces.
The first day of the workshop began with opening remarks from representatives of UNODC and NACTA, who highlighted the need for provincial ownership and sustainability of victim support frameworks. Sessions were led by Dr. Khuram Iqbal, Professor at National Defence University, and a national expert on terrorism and victim profiling, who presented a situational analysis and introduced data entry points for the national victim database. Ms. Saania Rubab, Senior Programme Associate at UNODC, explained the critical role of Victim Support Officers across departments. Barrister Muhammad Abubakar addressed the legislative basis for victim support in Pakistan. The day concluded with a session by Dr. Ahtisham Ali, a journalist focusing on victims' reporting, on the right to privacy and avoiding re-victimisation in media reporting.
On the second day, discussions shifted toward long-term care and institutional collaboration. Dr. Khuram Iqbal and Saania Rubab led group discussions on effective referrals and the role of Victim Support Organisations. Dr. Uzma Ali from the Institute of Clinical Psychology (ICP, Karachi) delivered a session on ethical service provision to victims of terrorism. Participants also reviewed access to justice mechanisms for victims, followed by a discussion on community resilience.
The third and final day focused on practical implementation. Participants engaged in a scenario-based group exercise covering emergency to long-term support stages, including identification, needs assessment, access to justice, protection, and compensation. The workshop concluded with presentations by each group and a certificate distribution ceremony recognising the efforts and commitment of Punjab’s provincial departments.
This workshop marked a critical step toward building an effective and inclusive victim support system in Pakistan. By equipping officials with practical tools and knowledge, UNODC and its partners aim to empower provinces to offer dignified and timely assistance to victims of terrorism. The event was held under the EU-funded Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP) project, implemented by UNODC in collaboration with NACTA.
