Manila, 16 January 2024 — The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Government of the Philippines, launched the project “Technical support on the rights and needs of victims of terrorism through the Model Legislative Provisions and the development of National Comprehensive Assistance Plans” through a high-level event in Manila. Funded by the State Department of the United States of America, the project will support the Philippines in enhancing and harmonizing their national legislative frameworks and developing national assistance plans for victims of terrorism.
The launch event, which was followed by the first technical assistance workshop of the project, was attended by more than 45 participants, including high-level Philippine officials representing key national entities, such as the Anti-Terrorism Council, the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, as well as civil society organizations from across the country and victims and survivors of terrorism. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Manila also participated.
Addressing participants in a video message, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT, stated “the project we are launching today is the first of its kind to strengthen Member States’ legislative frameworks and address victims' needs through a comprehensive action plan”. He also thanked the Philippines for championing legislative support to victims through the Model Legislative Provisions project and reiterated UNOCT’s continued support to the country in addressing the threat of terrorism in an effective, sustainable, and international law-compliant manner.
For his part, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, representing the Supreme Court of the Philippines, expressed strong support for the establishment of national assistance frameworks to support victims of terrorism and uphold their rights. He noted that the Supreme Court has strived to ensure “a sound balance between the protection of fundamental rights and effective law enforcement”.
The Country Manager of the UNODC Programme Office in the Philippines, Mr. Daniele Marchesi, noted that the broad participation of a wide range of officials is a testament to the Philippines’ determination to forge a robust engagement in the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism. He added that UNODC is “proud to support the Philippines in its objectives to strengthen its measures to respond to the needs of the victims of terrorism, together with UNOCT”.
The launch of the project in the Philippines is an important milestone in the international victims of terrorism agenda, as it marks the first time that a Member State takes action to implement the Model Legislative Provisions to Support the Rights and Needs of Victims of Terrorism, while also responding to General Assembly resolution 35/705, which calls on member states to develop national comprehensive assistance plans. The Model Legislative Provisions, launched by UNOCT, UNODC and the InterParliamentary Union in February 2022, provide concrete guidance to develop legislation and assistance Page 2 of 2 plans to support victims of terrorism, grounded in international humanitarian and human rights law, and in line with international developments on victims of terrorism-related matters.
The second technical assistance workshop will be held in May 2024 in Manila.
***** For any questions, please contact: Ms. Laurence Gerard (gerardl@un.org), Public Information Officer, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
