9 August 2024, Islamabad – The scourge of terrorism in Pakistan is accompanied by a trail of victims, who bear the brunt of this menace. These victims represent a paramount segment deserving of utmost priority in the nation's battle against terrorism. The victims of terrorism and violent extremism are often the most vulnerable and marginalized. The nexus of factors like economic turmoil, unemployment, food insecurity, governance failures, lawlessness, and corruption compound their suffering, potentially pushing them towards radicalization and violent extremism. Hailing from Lahore, the 45-year-old widow, Rubina is an example of how difficult her life becomes after her husband and son both died the same day in a terror attack. While narrating her story, she told how she and her family suffered thereafter; detailing the profound psychological trauma and physical pain they endured. Her story highlighted the severe lack of adequate support systems, including medical care, psychological counselling, and financial aid, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive, needs-based support systems for victims of terrorism. She further made some useful suggestions on ways to meet the needs of victims. Sadly, several areas of Pakistan are filled with these sorrowful stories.
Realizing this, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan under its project Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP), organized a consultative workshop on victims of terrorism which was conducted on 06-08 August 2024 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event was organized by UNODC and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) supported by the European Union (EU). The CPTP project is an 18-month intervention aimed at empowering community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence via a three-pronged strategy. The key strategy/components include: a. strengthen the capacity of criminal justice instructions; b. strengthen victim support through an effective legal system; c. foster community engagement via developing sustainable networks. Executed by UNODC and led by the National Counter NACTA, the project worth 6 Million euros is financially supported by the EU.
*Rubina is a fictitious name while the original name of the victim has been changed to protect her identity.
The session was an important step towards enhancing support for victims of terrorism and presented multiple aspects of the victim support system, including the policies, procedures, and supporting systems at the national and provincial levels to facilitate the participants’ review and enhancement of these aspects. The welcome speeches were delivered by Mr. Khalid Chohan, Director General of Research and Development at NACTA and Syed Arslan, Program Advisor for Preventing and Countering Terrorism at UNODC and both emphasized the importance of the said workshop and pointed out that these activities are vital for improving the system of support for terrorism victims.
