Victims of terrorism are often relegated to a secondary role within criminal justice systems, primarily serving as witnesses in trials and often receiving insufficient attention for their recovery and well-being. As such, it is essential to enhance the ability of Member States and civil society to more effectively address the needs of these victims.
Recognizing the pivotal role that victims of terrorism play in comprehensive response programmes, it is imperative to provide both theoretical and practical training to professionals in the justice, health, and social sectors, who are involved in their care. This includes guiding these professionals in creating mechanisms that offer essential support to victims of terrorism.
In the case of Niger, there is a need for more comprehensive training of health and social care workers in handling cases of sexual violence, including those involving minors. These cases are frequently intensified by terrorism, placing professionals - who often lack the essential tools to enable an effective response - in extremely challenging situations. As a result, many of them feel vulnerable when confronted with clinical cases they do not fully understand. This knowledge gap significantly affects their psychological well-being and can lead to feelings of guilt over their perceived inability to provide adequate assistance.
In this context, and as part of the
United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, UNODC delivered a national training to enhance support measures for victims of terrorism. The session, held in Niamey on 4-6 June 2024, gathered 20 participants (including 5 women) from across the country. The attendees came from various backgrounds, including representatives of civil society, military health service professionals, social workers from ministries, and police officials. The event also benefitted from the active contributions of psychologists and sociologists who offered valuable insights from their work with victims of terrorism.
The meeting included specialized training on psychological trauma, as well as practical sessions that included the direct treatment of victims. This approach also equipped professionals with the necessary skills to train their colleagues, ensuring effective dissemination of knowledge. Participants identified and classified different categories of victims and discussed both short and long-term recovery requirements.
The interactive sessions were tailored to address the specific needs of the participants and adjusted based on their realities and feedback.
These sessions were specifically designed to assist Niger in strengthening its medical and social support systems for victims of terrorism, building upon recommendations stemming from previous activities. The training emphasized professional development in psychological care for individuals affected by such violence, aligning closely with UNODC’s commitment to supporting Niger’s efforts in this critical area.
The participants showed strong commitment and motivation to enhance their professional skills and expressed eagerness to participate in future training.
The activity was funded by the government of Japan.
