Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism

The Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism is the group of United Nations Member States and Observers formed to promote a comprehensive approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of victims of terrorism and to advocate for their diverse needs in the short, medium and long term.

The Group is co-chaired by Spain and Iraq and participation in it is open to all UN Member States and Observers, including regional and international organizations.

This Group was established in New York on 29 June 2019.

What does it do?

To achieve its aims, the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism seeks a balanced implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy focused on Pillars I and IV, as well as other relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

In line with this aim, the specific objectives of the Group are as follows:

To promote the importance of protecting the rights of victims of terrorism and providing them with appropriate support, assistance and rehabilitation, including international solidarity, in accordance with international law;
Promote the implementation of the relevant UN resolution related to support for victims of terrorism;
Give a voice to victims of terrorism at the international level;
Promote the role of victims of terrorism and their families in countering and delegitimizing terrorist narratives, including through education;
Raise awareness of the needs of victims, particularly women and children, and their families;
Promote the establishment of sustainable systems to assist victims of terrorism;
Share best practices and lessons learned related to existing national and regional frameworks to protect victims of terrorism and their families, including the provision of legal, medical, psychosocial and financial support;
Raise awareness of the work undertaken by UN entities to support victims of terrorism, including the framework of the Victims of Terrorism Support Program;
Commemorate the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism;
The Group meets annually at the ministerial level in the margins of the General Assembly. It also holds regular meetings in New York, with permanent representatives and/or experts.

Why?

Terrorism is one of the greatest challenges of our time and continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. The international community has always sought to work together to prevent and counter this threat. In this regard, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (RES/A/60/288), adopted in 2006, represents one of the key multilateral instruments that enhances national, regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism in all its dimensions.

Pillar I and Pillar IV of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy emphasize the need to promote and protect the rights of victims of terrorism and call on States to consider establishing, in accordance with applicable legislation, national assistance systems that promote the needs of victims of terrorism and their families and facilitate the normalization of their lives. In the past, the lack of recognition of victims has contributed to conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, limited the space for their voices to be heard, and undermined the protection of their rights.

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF FRIENDS OF VICTIMS OF TERRORISM

Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq (Co-Chair) , Israel, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Spain (Co-Chair), Tajikistan, Türkiye ,Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OBSERVERS

European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) , United Nations Office against Drug and Crime (UNODC).