Victims of Terrorism
Since 2015, VSE has increasingly developed specialist knowledge in the field of victims of terrorism. Starting with our support for France Victimes, after the Paris attacks in 2015, VSE carries out a range of activities to ensure that policies, laws and services at the national, European and international level meet the needs of victims of terrorism. Below we set out all the activities that VSE carries out.
Although the international community has yet to adopt a comprehensive definition, the term terrorism is commonly understood to refer to acts of violence that target civilians in the pursuit of political or ideological aims.
The United Nations General Assembly is currently working towards the adoption of a comprehensive convention against terrorism, which would complement the existing sectoral anti-terrorism conventions. Its draft article 2 contains a definition of terrorism which includes “unlawfully and intentionally” causing, attempting or threatening to cause: “(a) death or serious bodily injury to any person; or (b) serious damage to public or private property, including a place of public use, a State or government facility, a public transportation system, an infrastructure facility or the environment; or (c) damage to property, places, facilities, or systems…, resulting or likely to result in major economic loss, when the purpose of the conduct, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel a Government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act.”
VSE Activities
I. Support for Victims of Terrorism
A. VSE Terrorism Response Network
Following the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, and a series of further attacks in Europe and beyond, Victim Support Europe has acted together with its members to help ensure victims are offered the support they need and that governments and international institutions understand better their needs and best response. Since 2015, VSE, through its Terrorism Response Network, has provided varying levels of response to more than 20 attacks across Europe and the world including attacks in France, Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Turkey, USA, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. VSE responds to large scale attacks in Europe or outside of Europe where European citizens are likely to be involved.
VSE established an internal protocol of action in the event of a mass scale attack. This focused on three pillars of activity:
In the event of a large scale attack, VSE publishes capital information regarding the events, the helplines and victim support organisations available for victims, families and anyone who is involved in the attack, . See VSE page dedicated to victims of terrorism: https://victim-support.eu/help-for-victims/info-on-specific-types-of-victims/victim-of-terrorism/
If you would like more information on the Terrorism Response Network, please contact Léa Meindre-Chautrand, VSE Policy Officer, by email at lea@victimsupporteurope.eu
B. List of actions and best practices after a terrorist attack
VSE has put together a list of actions and best practices that we believe are crucial to have and to put in place in the short, medium and long term after a terrorist attack. The information and documents are intended for victim support organisations but also governments to put in place or improve their terrorism response framework.
The information contained in the document have been collected from different experts, international and European sources and should be considered as a non-exhaustive list of actions or documents.
C. Supporting the memory of victims of terrorism
Every year, VSE commemorates the 11 March (the European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism), the 22 March (the anniversary of the Brussels attacks of 2016. This anniversary is particularly important as VSE is based in Brussels and its office is 500 meters from the attack site), the 21 August (the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism).
In 2019 VSE produced a guidance document which gives guidelines and suggestions for the preparation of a memorial event in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.
II. Law and Policy Development
VSE works extensively with national governments, the EU and the UN to support the development of policies in the field. To support our work, we had a privilege to work with experts in the field. VSE has continued to develop a coherent set of policies focused on victims of terrorism. We have had the privilege to work with experts and organisations from around the world including INVICTM, Voices of 9/11, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Canadian Federal Ombudsman for victims of crime, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for victims of the troubles and many of our member organisations including France Victimes, Slachtofferhulp, Victim Support, Weisser Ring, and APAV. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for there support, expertise and commitment, without which we would not be have been able to make such significant and swift progress.
A. At the European level
EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism
In the past years, terrorism continued to constitute a major threat to security in the European Union. The European Commission is committed to ensuring that victims of terrorism can fully rely on their rights independently where in the EU the terrorist attack takes place. The EU has adopted a solid set of rules on victims’ rights including particular provisions on rights of victims of terrorism that respond more directly to their specific needs. In this regard, a good preparation on how to deal with victims of terrorism before any attack takes place is of vital importance.
What is the EU Centre of expertise for victims of terrorism?
The European Commission set up the EU Centre of expertise for victims of terrorism (the EU Centre or EUCVT) in January 2020 to offer expertise, guidance and support to national authorities and victim support organisations.
The EU Centre will help to ensure that the EU rules on victims of terrorism are correctly applied. It will promote the exchange of best practices and sharing of expertise among the practitioners and specialists across borders. It will not provide for direct help and assistance to particular victims of terrorism, but it will help to ensure that national structures offer professional assistance and support to victims of terrorism in every EU country.
The EU Centre is a pilot project that lasted for two years.
Who is involved?
The EUCVT is set up and run by the European Commission. The tasks of the EU Centre are executed by a consortium led by Victim Support Europe and include ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Association française des Victimes du Terrorisme and Fondation Lenval.
In delivering its work, the EUCVT is advised by the Executive Committee and the Advisory Panel. The Executive Committee of the EUCVT is chaired by EU Victims’ Rights’ Coordinator of the European Commission (DG JUST), with members representing Victim Support Europe, European Network on Victims’ Rights, European Commission, DG HOME) and V-Europe. The EUCVT Advisory Panel consists of experts in the field of victims of terrorism from the EU and beyond.
What does the EU Centre do?
- Training and handbooks
On 18 January 2021, the Commission published the EU Handbook on Victims of Terrorism produced by the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism. The EU Handbook aims to assist in the practical implementation of the EU legislation, based on lessons learned from responses to previous terrorist attacks. The Handbook is accompanied by a separate Annex.
In February 2021, the EU Centre provided a training of trainers to 80 participants, coming from 25 EU Member States. Upon completion of this training, the participants became EUCVT Training Officers.
The EUCVT Training Officers are currently supporting the EU Centre in the development of national handbook and trainings. National trainings will be delivered to national stakeholders in the period June-September 2021. National handbooks will be available to the public from September 2021 onwards.
The objective of the trainings is to ensure that staff specifically trained on the needs and rights of victims of terrorism is available in each Member State. Following the online training, the staff will be also equipped with the necessary skills to share the know-how at the local level.
- Lists of Experts
The EU Centre has set up a database with information on experts in different fields like:
– List of Psycho-trauma Experts: Psycho-trauma experts specifically trained to deal with post-traumatic syndromes characteristic to victims of terrorism;
– General List of Experts: Psychologists, lawyers, victim support organisations and first responders.
- Hub of expertise
In March 2021, the Centre launched its online Hub of Expertise.
This Hub of Expertise allows national authorities and victim support organisations in the Member States to exchange knowledge and experience on the rights and needs of victims of terrorism. The Hub also promotes a better flow of information across borders and contributes to the creation of effective response structures for victims of terrorism in general and cross-border terrorism victims in particular.
Access to the Hub is currently restricted to experts that are a part of the General Experts list and list of Psycho–trauma Experts, EUCVT training officers, which are in charge of delivering the national trainings for the Centre, and stakeholders of the Centre (including the members of the EUCVT Executive Committee and Advisory Panel).
Contact
by email: eucvt@victimsupporteurope.eu
by phone: + 32 (0) 23 46 04 55
EU – European Directive on Combatting Terrorism
At the end of 2015, the European Commission took the initiative to propose a new European Directive on combating terrorism. Whilst an important first step, the proposal was very limited in its focus on victims of terrorism. Working, therefore, with Members of the European Parliament and with the ongoing support of the European Commission, we pushed for a series of amendments to the Directive. The Directive was subsequently strengthened to include a number of measures on the support of victims of terrorism including those from abroad.
In November 2020, VSE has submitted feedback to the European Commission roadmap for the evaluation of the EU Directive on Combating Terrorism.
EU – European Parliament Policy Paper on Supporting Victims of Terrorism
In 2017 VSE prepared a report for the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament on the needs of victims of terrorism: “How can the EU and the Member States better help victims of terrorism?”
The report was based on the research conducted on legislation and policy responses to the needs of victims of terrorism in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom. Focusing on the two main EU instruments in this field: the Victims’ Rights Directive and the Directive on Combating Terrorism, the report proposed a set of recommendations for the EU and the Member States legislative and policy response to better ensure the needs of victims of terrorism are well taken care of. In the delivery of this important piece of research, we cooperated with our members: France Victimes, SAM, Weisser Ring, A.N.V.D.V. and Victim Support England and Wales.
B. At the International level
UN – Handbook of Good Practices – Africa and Middle East
Since 2017, VSE has been working closely with the UN to support its activities for victims of terrorism. In particular, VSE was a member of the experts group which helped develop the UN’s handbook of good practices to support victims associations in Africa and Middle East.
UN – Handbook of Good Practices – Asia
Since 2019, VSE has been supporting the UN in the development of its follow-up paper covering good practices in Asia for supporting victims of terrorism. We anticipate the report will be published in 2020.
III. Networks and Training
Developing responses and policies on victims of terrorism requires extensive cooperation and coordination. Expertise in the field is spread throughout the world, VSE has therefore developed a strong network of experts to assist in its work. Through that network VSE has not only developed its own policies, but also carried our training and capacity building.
A. INVICTM Activities
In 2016, VSE helped establish an informal group of experts on terrorism consisting of individuals from civil society, governments, independent authorities, academic institutions and law enforcement. Since its inception the group has grown from strength to strength and have now rebranded to be called INVICTM – International Network for Victims of Terrorism.
The group holds monthly conference calls to discuss member activities and latest developments. They are also critical to supporting international responses to terrorist acts as well as assisting of the development of VSE policies. Since 2017, INVICTM has held an annual international symposium of victims of terrorism alongside VSE’s Annual Conference. These are invitation-only events, bringing together practitioners from victims’ field to discuss the challenges of meeting the needs of victims of terrorism and to identify solutions.
The informal group of experts on terrorism we helped establish in 2016 (IFDIS) has grown from strength to strength. With our support they delivered their second symposium in Stockholm alongside our conference. They have now re branded to be called INVICTM – International Network for Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence and hold a third symposium with us in Strasbourg in 2019. The report of the Symposium will be published soon.
2019 INVICTM Symposium
Whilst the INVICTM Symposium is by invitation-only, VSE has received the permission to share the presentations among its membership.
Please, respect the confidentiality of these documents and do not disseminate them further without the permission of the author.
2018 INVICTM Symposium
VSE’s volunteer An Verelst produced a report that reflects the discussions held during the 2018 symposium in Stockholm. Given the complexities of supporting victims of terrorism, the report features the experts’ recommendations on a flexible approach to responding to each unique terrorist attack. Participants from around the world identified local challenges and practical solutions for supporting victims of terrorism during the symposium.
B. Winter School on Supporting Victims of Terrorism
In 2017, VSE held a Winter School on Supporting Victims of Terrorism with participants from our member and partner organisations France Victimes, V-Europe, APAV, Slachtofferhulp Nederland, Offerrådgivningen i Danmark, Steunpunt Algemeen Welzijnswerk, Weisser Ring, Victim Support Russia, NATAL while the lectures will be provided by VSE’s An Verelst, Ilse van de Walle, Levent Latan and guest experts and speakers.
During these three days, participants of the Winter school had the opportunity to learn more about traumatic reactions after a terrorist attack, needs of victims of terrorism, identification, psycho-education and support of victims & Support techniques and principles of supporting victims of terrorism.
VSE’s report How can the EU and the member states better help victims of terrorism was presented as an introduction to the working sessions.
Participants had the opportunity to exchange best practices on supporting victims terrorism across the European Union and world and learnt about the importance of the peer support for victims of terrorism.
C. Leadership in Counter Terrorism Conference – https://www.linct-aa.org/
The Leadership in Counter Terrorism Alumni Association (LinCT-AA) is a non-profit separate affiliate of the International Leadership in Counter Terrorism (LinCT) Program with a principle purpose to promote personal and professional development, networking, exchange of good practice and global thinking of Counter Terrorism Professionals from both law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The Association works with key academic research centres and the leading contemporary professionals in the field to continually develop successful and sustainable partnerships for the benefit of communities across the world.
Each year the Association hosts a reconvention of members, associates and affiliates and is partnered by some of the world’s largest private sector organisations.
VSE’s Executive Director, Levent Altan, has been invited several times to speak at the victims panel presenting update knowledge on specific issues on victims of terrorism.
Powerpoint presentations of Levent Altan at the LINCT conference:
