The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz will host the High-Level International Conference on Victims of Terrorism organised by the United Nations and the Spanish Government on 8 and 9 October. The goal is to follow on from the 1st Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism held in September 2022 at the UN Headquarters in New York (USA), and to advance in the promotion of global policies of reparation and support for victims and the preservation of their memory.
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), as conference promoter, is working alongside the Ministries for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the Interior, and the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council as host city, on event preparations.
This Wednesday, representatives from the United Nations, the Sub-Directorate General for International Cooperation against Terrorism of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the Directorate General of Support for Victims of Terrorism of the Ministry of the Interior held a first meeting in the Basque Country capital with the Mayor's Office team to coordinate preparations for the international conference.
On 8 and 9 October, the Europa Conference Centre will host a large representation of delegations from UN Member States, international organisations, institutions, civil society and victims of terrorism in a High-Level International Conference that will build on the work of the previous global congress.
In choosing Vitoria-Gasteiz as the venue for the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism, the organising institutions have considered the symbolic value of a city home to the Memorial Centre for the Victims of Terrorism. Vitoria City Council is a member of the centre’s board of trustees, which also promotes strengthening policies to recognise and remember the victims.
New York Congress
The 1st Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism held in September 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the first of its kind, brought together representatives from the international organisation’s Member States, victims of terrorism and their associations, international entities and civil society organisations, as well as academic experts and researchers.
This Congress analysed the problems that victims of terrorism face, such as recognition and remembrance measures, access to justice, protection of their rights, assistance and support, as well as the necessary attention to their rights and needs.
The Congress was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who put Spain forward as the venue for the international conference planned for next October in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in order to guarantee the continuity of the UN congress and make progress in promoting global policies of reparation and support for the victims of terrorism and for the preservation of their memory.