Director-General/Executive Director
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
My thanks to the organizers of this important event. I am also grateful for the partnership between the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, under the IPU-UN Joint Programme on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy highlights the importance of supporting victims of terrorist acts, and encourages the creation of national systems of assistance.
UNODC has developed resources and tools with and for victims, including the 2020 handbook, “From victims of terrorism to messengers for peace”.
We are also proud of our joint work with IPU and OCT to develop model legislative provisions on victims of terrorism, which will be launched later this year.
The provisions will be a resource for Member States to bring national legislation in line with international norms, through a victim-centred approach focusing on compensation, recognition and remembrance.
The provisions also include an important focus on the protection of privacy and dignity; the role of victims’ associations and non-governmental organizations; and victims’ access to justice.
UNODC’s contribution draws on the Office’s integrated mandates addressing crime and terrorism, and its support for the implementation of UN standards and norms on crime prevention and criminal justice.
The provisions are being developed through an inclusive process involving hundreds of parliamentarians, practitioners, experts, representatives of victims’ associations, and victims themselves from some 80 countries.
I would like to thank all those who contributed, in particular the victims, who helped to ensure that the model provisions reflect their perspectives and needs.
This side event is an opportunity to further strengthen our joint efforts to prioritize assistance for victims of terrorism, so they can receive the justice, protection, and support they deserve.
I wish you fruitful discussions. Thank you.