Morocco will host the first Conference on Victims of Terrorism in Africa in December 2-3,2025. The announcement was made by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita during the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism held in New York on the sidelines of UN General Assembly.
The Rabat conference will be organized in coordination with UN Office on Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). It seeks to raise awareness of the international community on the situation of African victims and the need to support their rehabilitation and recovery from psychological trauma.
If African victims of terrorism are provided the necessary psychological and financial support,they can become powerful voices against radicalization and extremism,said Mr. Bourita.
He voiced Morocco’s commitment to promoting the rights and protecting victims of terrorism in Africa which accounts for nearly 60% of the world’s victims.
The minister praised the efforts of the Friends of Victims of Terrorism Group which has contributed to advancing the international agenda for victims and strengthening the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
Africa is the continent which suffers most from terrorism,said the minister,stressing the need for “institutionalized mechanisms tailored to African continent to address efficiently the needs of victims of terrorism and their communities.
Most victims of terrorism are innocent citizens who find themselves at the wrong place and at the wrong time,randomly targeted in brutal attacks. The lives of survivors,and those of their families,can be irrevocably changed.
Many victims take years to recover physically from their injuries or come to terms with their losses. Without help,the trauma can be a lifelong sentence. Victims of terrorism often require long-term,multi-dimensional support,including physical,psychological,and social assistance,to recover and reintegrate into society.
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