The Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB) has recently organized, in collaboration with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), an Expert Group Meeting on Good Practices on Assistance to and Support for Victims of Terrorism within the Criminal Justice Framework.
The event, which was held at the UNODC headquarters in Vienna on 24 and 25 November 2014, brought together national and international experts from United Nations Member States, regional and inter-governmental organizations, such as the Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, specialized United Nations counter terrorism bodies, such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, as well as from the civil society organizations.
The meeting was aimed at identifying and developing guidance on the identification, implementation and evaluation of good practices for effective criminal justice responses for victims of terrorism. During the two days of intensive work, the participants shared experiences in the subject areas, including, among others, support to victims during criminal investigations and proceedings, victims' right to reparation or alternative means of compensation, and their right to information and personal privacy. Participants also discussed legislation, policies and institutional practices in these areas and considered recent international developments, including the GCTF Madrid Memorandum on Good Practices for Assistance to Victims of Terrorism Immediately After the Attack and in Criminal Proceedings and the 2012 Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism to the Human Rights Council entitled "Framework Principles for Securing the Human Rights of Victims of Terrorism".
The discussions of participating experts will inform UNODC/TPB's development of a guide on good practices for criminal justice policy makers and practitioners working with victims within criminal investigations and prosecutions related to terrorism, which will be available in 2015.