International Experts Defined Goals and Objectives for Legislative Support for Rights of Victims of Terrorism

On 29 January 2021, a series of consultations ended within the framework of the virtual conference “Model Legislative Provisions on the Rights of Victims of Terrorism” organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) – partners of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

Secretary of the Joint Commission at the IPA CIS for the Harmonization of National Laws Related to Security, Countering Emerging Threats and Challenges Stanislav Korostelyov and Secretary of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Political Issues and International Cooperation Maximillian Selyutin took part in the event as observers on behalf of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat.

Within the framework of the final sixth part of the consultations, the experts considered a number of challenging issues, such as informing victims of terrorism about their possible role in the civil or criminal justice process, the nature and timing of the proceedings and the degree of their possible participation in these proceedings; accessibility of mechanisms of legal support and representation in courts for victims of terrorism, as well as the availability of information on the existence of such mechanisms and some other issues.

The experts also discussed issues related to the crimes motivated by terrorism, for example, the establishment of special courts or organizations to consider cases involving victims of terrorism. The general principles that should guide the provision of assistance, eligibility criteria, funding issues, the timing of support, and the right of victims of terrorism to rehabilitation were also discussed at the event.

Victims of the 2013 Boston terrorist attacks and survivors of the 2005 London events also spoke during the discussion.

Senior Terrorism Prevention Officer at the UNODC Nikolai West moderated the conference.