GENEVA – UN Special Rapporteur on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul issued a statement today to mark the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism:
“The International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is a chance to commemorate all victims of terrorism worldwide and renew global efforts to protect them.
Terrorism continues to inflict a grim toll of death, personal injury and hostage-taking all over the world. In the past year, I have heard victims speak of the ‘pure horror’ of terrorist attacks and the feeling that they are ‘going to die’.
Some victims have also spoken of how ‘life only got worse’ after the attack, they ‘think of the attack every day’, the ‘trauma never heals’ and ‘it feels like there is no future’.
Victims often suffer life-long physical pain and disabilities, as well as psychological scars. Some lose their jobs or livelihoods, can no longer attend school or university, or experience break-downs in personal relationships with friends and family members.
I pay tribute to the many victims who show incredible courage and resilience as they ‘learn how to live again’, often with the help of their families, friends and communities. To rebuild their lives, victims also need comprehensive and sustained support from governments.
Many countries have not yet put in place adequate measures to help victims. I urge all countries to assist and protect victims of terrorism in accordance with international law and based on the good practices in the UN to Support the Needs and Protect the Rights of Victims of Terrorism.
Countries must provide comprehensive assistance for as long as necessary, including medical, psychological, social and material support. They should physically and psychologically protect victims, including their privacy. They should ensure reparation, including state-funded compensation, where necessary.
Countries should also ensure victims learn the truth about attacks, including through independent and impartial investigations, prosecutions to bring perpetrators to justice, and accountability for any failures by state authorities to prevent foreseeable terrorist attacks.
Victims must also be able to access information about their rights, enjoy access to justice and fully participate in legal proceedings.
Victims should be publicly recognised and commemorated.
All programmes to assist victims must be victim-centred, be human rights-based and accountable. These programmes must adopt a ‘do no harm’ approach, avoid secondary victimisation and engage victims’ associations and civil society.
Countries must address the needs of vulnerable victims, including children, women and girls, victims of sexual or gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, the elderly, minorities, indigenous peoples, cross-border victims, victims in armed conflict and displaced people.
International solidarity is also crucial in both assisting cross-border victims and supporting countries that lack the capacity to address large-scale emergencies or protracted conflicts that can devastate whole communities. Regional organisations and the UN should support national efforts.
All countries must respect international law when countering terrorism. Illegal measures thwart truth and justice for victims, including methods such as extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, unfair trials, and violations of international humanitarian law.
To assist victims of terrorism, countries must also address conditions conducive to terrorism more systematically. In the UN , all countries agreed that these conditions can include ‘prolonged unresolved conflicts, dehumanisation of victims of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, lack of the rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, socio-economic marginalisation and lack of good governance.’
I stand ready to advise any country that wishes to strengthen protection of victims of terrorism, improve compliance with international law when countering terrorism, or address conditions conducive to terrorism.”
