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These documents are significant in the formal consideration of Counterterrorism, Criminal Justice, and Assistance to Victims of Terrorism. But, we as women know that the realities of terrorist attacks are highly personal, and that rhetoric must confront the reality of women’s experiences of terrorism and attacks, and their caring for children and entire families. Men create conflict; women want peace and security.

 

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/173159.pdf

 

Cairo Declaration on Counterterrorism and the Rule of Law: Effective Counterterrorism Practice in the Criminal Justice Sector

 

 

 

Direct Link to Full 9-Page Document:

https://www.thegctf.org/documents/10162/72352/13Sep19_Madrid+Memorandum.pdf

 

Madrid Memorandum on Good Practices for Assistance to Victims of Terrorism Immediately after the Attack and in Criminal Proceedings

 

The Cairo Declaration on Counterterrorism and the Rule of Law (September 22, 2011) calls for members of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) to “develop good practices for an effective and rule of law-based criminal justice sector response to terrorism.” In July 2012, Spain hosted a high-level conference on victims of terrorism under the auspices of the GCTF Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Working Group. At this meeting, member states recognized the need to collaborate on developing a document outlining good practices for assisting terrorism victims. In addition, the Government of Spain circulated a draft document, “Madrid Memorandum on Good Practices for Assistance to Victims of Terrorism Immediately after the Attack and in Criminal Proceedings.” On November 7, 2012, experts from GCTF members met to discuss and refine this document. Consistent with the Cairo Declaration, all States are encouraged to consider using these non-binding good practices, while recognizing that implementation of these practices must be consistent with applicable international law, as well as national law and regulations, taking into account the varied histories, cultures, and legal systems among States. States may also wish to take note of relevant international and regional instruments, UN General Assembly resolutions, and UN reports.1 States are also encouraged, but not obligated, to share their experiences with the following practices with the CVE Working Group.

 

1 A non-exhaustive listing includes: UN General Assembly Resolutions 60/288 of 2006 (The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy) and 66/282 of 2012 (The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review); the UNODC report The Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism, Revised edition, 2012; Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson: Framework principles for securing the human rights of victims of terrorism, 2012; and the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (opened for signature in 2005 and entered into force in 2007), which contains a provision specifically dealing with the protection and compensation of and assistance to victims of terrorism.

A terrorist attack is traumatic for a wide range of individuals and institutions, but it most directly affects the victims and their families. How well the victims’ physical and emotional needs are met can have a significant impact on how well the victims are able to cope with the trauma. Prompt and efficient assistance and support to terrorism victims from the moment of the attack through normalization and beyond can have a positive effect on victims’ mental health and ability to cope. Providing for practical needs in a compassionate way is a tangible expression of the care and concern for citizens who are victims of terrorism. Particular attention should be paid to the needs of children.

 

A. General Approach

 

Good Practice 1: Ensure effective and appropriate coordination among concerned bodies responsible for the provision of direct assistance to victims and their families. Specific, established coordination is vital to provide specialized, prompt, and efficient support for victims from the outset of the attack through the long-term attack impact. Official coordination can ensure the victim response meets professional and ethical standards and fosters the recovery process, and could include, for example, personnel with special training in the following areas: psycho-social (social workers), medical, legal, forensic, and financial process experts, among others.

 

Such official coordination can operate with a goal of providing a comprehensive, integrated response to victim needs resulting from the terrorist attack. Governmental coordination should involve first responders, law enforcement, prosecution agencies, courts, corrections, victim assistance units, health professionals, and relevant organizations from civil society, including victims’ organizations and other relevant non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector.

 

In addition to providing coordination, governmental authorities could also provide policy guidance on victim issues in general, which can include drafting, implementing and monitoring compliance with protocols addressing issues ranging from immediate action at the moment of the attack to achieving normalized social integration or a new normal life for victims.2

2 The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy calls on states to consider putting in place, on a voluntary basis, “national systems of assistance that would promote the needs of victims of terrorism and their families and facilitate the normalization of their lives.” UN General Assembly Resolution 60/288 (Sept 2006), Plan of Action, Sec. 1, Para 8.

 

Good Practice 2: Encourage State actions that are focused on victim needs and consistent with a set of guidelines. States could identify guidelines to inform their actions. Some general guidelines could include: (1) immediacy—intervening as soon as possible; (2) accessibility—making assistance convenient and available to victims (which in some cases may mean acting as closely as possible to the attack location as is safe, or using technology to communicate with victims unable to travel or who are in other countries); (3) simplicity—using quick and simple methods adapted to the situation, recognizing that traumatized individuals may be feeling emotionally overwhelmed; (4) unity—identifying an official point of contact for the victims, according to the internal legal system, in case they would like to benefit from assistance; and (5) resiliency—highlighting the positive aspects of the victims’ previous environment or role, thus helping their self-esteem and their coping strategies; and (6) comprehensive assistance

 

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