Symposium on victims of terrorism acts starts in Algiers

Experts and specialists will focus Monday in Algiers on issues related to the promotion and protection of the rights of victims of terrorism during a symposium on "victims of terrorism acts", held by the African Union (AU) as part of activities of the African Centre for Study and Research on Terrorism (CAERT).
Several speeches and presentations are scheduled at its meetings which will include other issues like the "International Framework for the support and assistance to victims," "Initiatives, practices and national models of support to victims", "The experience of victims and their associations: challenges and opportunities "and" The role of victims and victims' associations in the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism."
African and foreign experts as well as representatives of civil society will also discuss, along with representatives of regional and international organizations, "The criminal justice response to victims of terrorism", "The regional and international framework to provide support and assistance to victims "and "Future actions: establishment of the African network of Associations of Victims and monitoring activities. "
Speaking at the opening of the two-day symposium, Director of CAERT, Francesco Madeira, recalled the African continent (West, East and Sahel) has witnessed an upsurge of terrorist attacks and activities.
"Terrorism acts in some African countries and other regions seriously affected communities and hindered development and peace efforts," Madeira stressed, saying the regional and international efforts are further focused on "needs and the role of victims of terrorist acts."
In this regard, the head of CAERT welcomed the "important" role played by Algeria in the fight against terrorism and continues in its action, stressing that "the time nobody believed what was the scape of the threat," this African country (Algeria) already had a "clear vision."
"I hail the role of Algeria in the fight against terrorism. At a time when no one was measuring the scape of the threat which Africa was facing during the 90s, Algeria had a clear vision on what would happen," said Madeira.
For his part, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hacene Karma, highlighted the "support" of the Algerian government to this e meeting, which will culminate in recommendations able to further clarify the measures to take to better meet the needs of victims of terrorist acts.