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  1. Day Two - Session 6: Parallel breakout sessions – Addressing the rights and needs of victims of terrorism with specific needs

Day Two - Session 6: Parallel breakout sessions – Addressing the rights and needs of victims of terrorism with specific needs

Banner of the Day Two Programme page of the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism

 

Session 6: Parallel breakout sessions – Addressing the rights and needs of victims of terrorism with specific needs

15:00 - 16:15

 

The importance of giving special attention and providing services and support to individuals and communities who have specific needs because of the nature of harm inflicted upon them is repeatedly affirmed by the international community. For victims of terrorism, it is essential that States ensure that victims who are particularly vulnerable, either through their personal characteristics or through the circumstances of the terrorist attack, can benefit from equitable measures tailored to their specific needs. Each of these groups requires tailored strategies for rehabilitation and protection, based on their wide range of legal, social, and psychological needs. Two parallel sessions explored some of the specific needs and types of assistance available to children and youth, and placed the spotlight on the needs of cross-border victims.

 

Breakout Session 6 A: Children and youth victims of terrorism

Quick Links: Session and Statements | Speakers | Survey

 

Breakout Session 6 B: Cross-border victims of terrorism

Quick Links: Session and Statements | Speakers | Survey

Breakout Session 6 A: Children and youth victims of terrorism

15:00 - 16:15

Room: CR.1

 

Children and youth who are affected by terrorism perceive violence and death differently than adults and require focused, specialized, and individualized support to address their unique needs in the short, medium, and long term. Children with disabilities require special attention. This session addressed the specific needs of children and youth victims, which included those who have lost or been separated from their parents due to terrorism, those born from acts of sexual violence committed by members of terrorist groups, or those abducted, enslaved, or recruited by terrorist groups.

 

Session and Statements for Breakout session 6 A

Time Sessions

Friday, 09 September
15:00 – 16:15

Moderator:

  • Ms. Brigid Kennedy Pfister, Senior Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF

Panelists:

  • Ms. Alicia Taylor, victim of terrorism, United Kingdom
  • Ms. Sarah Gatchel, victim of terrorism, Kenya
  • Ms. Oliya Ilmuradova, Director, Barkharor Hayot, Uzbekistan
  • Mr. Zannah Mustapha, Founder, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation, Nigeria

Questions and Observations from the floor

Interventions and additional statements: 

Breakout Session 6 B: Cross-border victims of terrorism

15:00 - 16:150

Room: CR.4

 

Cross-border victims often experience an array of unique and complex challenges, layers of bureaucratic hurdles, and a heightened risk for secondary victimization. Differences between rights and legal frameworks in a variety of countries may be confusing for cross-border victims. The lack of familiarity with a foreign system may hinder the cross-border victims’ access to support and assistance services, and to justice more generally. The session explored how to strengthen international collaboration and coordination of cross-border victims. The cooperation between local foreign ministries and embassies and consulates is essential to help identify the needs for both information and assistance and support of cross-border victims. The importance of assistance and care in their country of origin was also highlighted.

 

Session and Statements for Breakout session 6 B

Time Sessions

Friday, 09 September
15:00 – 16:15

Moderator:

  • Mr. Michael O’Connell, Consultant Victimologist and former Commissioner for Victims' Rights of South Australia, Australia

Panelists:

  • Ms. Ana Evans, victim of terrorism, Argentina
  • Col. Magistrate Didier Sipa Ndongmo, Director of Military Justice, Ministry of Defence, Cameroon
  • Mr. Pascal Kober, Federal Government Commissioner for Persons Affected by Terrorist and Extremist Attacks Committed on National Territory, Germany
  • Mr. Levent Altan, Executive Director, Victim Support Europe
  • Dr. Deborah Casalin, Principal Research Fellow, Antwerpen University, South Africa

Questions and Observations from the floor

Interventions

  • Ms. Jelena Watkins, Trustee of the September 11 UK Families Support Group and victim of terrorism, United Kingdom
  • Ms. Alis Lungu, Legal adviser, Romania
  • Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations
  • Mr. Ariel Seidler, Program director, Latin American Branch, World Jewish Congress

 

 

 

 

Speakers for Breakout session 6 A

Image of Dr. Brigid Kennedy Pfister at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Brigid Kennedy Pfister

Senior Child Protection Specialist for UNICEF

Brigid Kennedy Pfister has been a Senior Child Protection Specialist for UNICEF, New York, focused on Children and Armed Conflict since 2019. From 2015 to 2018 she served as Chief of Child Protection for UNICEF in Iraq, and from 2012 to 2015 was a Judicial Affairs Officer for the UN Assist Mission in Afghanistan. As a lawyer she represented children and families in care and protection proceedings and appeals. She has an LLM from Harvard Law School and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law.

Image of the Ms. Alicia Taylor at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Ms. Alicia Taylor

Victim of terrorism, United Kingdom

Alicia Taylor is a nineteen year old student who currently studies English Literature at Durham University. In May 2017, at the age of thirteen, she survived the Manchester Arena Attack. She is a founding member of the ‘Bee The Difference’ research project, in collaboration with the National Emergencies Trust, which hopes to evaluate the support that youth survivors received after the attack. Alicia and the other project members aim to advocate for an improved support system for future youth survivors in the UK. As a literary student, she understands how motivational speaking can promote positive changes, and feels honoured to take part in panel discussion.

Image of the Ms. Sarah Gatchel at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Ms. Sarah Gatchel

Victim of terrorism, Kenya

Ms. Sarah Gatchel was born in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a mother and a victim of terrorism. On 7 August 1998, Ms. Gatchel lost her husband, Mr. Geoffrey Moses Namai, when Al Qaeda bombed the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. She instantly became a widow at 21 years old, whilst raising her 4-month old son, Nigeel Andiika Namai. Unemployed and grieving, Ms. Gatchel faced many challenges, but focused on providing her son with education and basic needs. 24 years later, she is a proud mother; her son Nigeel is now pursuing his studies at university. Nigeel’s father is gone, but is permanently in their memories.

Image of the Ms. Oliya Ilmuradova at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Ms. Oliya Ilmuradova

Director, Barkharor Hayot, Uzbekistan

Oliya Ilmuradova is the Director of Barkaror Hayot and has witnessed first-hand the challenges and successes of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. Barkaror Hayot, established in 2003, is an Uzbek NGO that helps women and children returning from conflict zones. The NGO has implemented more than 50 educational and social projects to support children and women returnees.

 

Image of Dr. Ilia Siatitsa at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Mr. Zannah Mustapha

Founder, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation, Nigeria

Zannah Mustapha, a champion for the safety and education rights of displaced children growing up amid violence in northeastern Nigeria, is the 2017 winner of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. Zannah Mustapha founded a school in 2007 in Maiduguri – the capital of Borno State and the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency. The school has stayed open throughout the conflict with Boko Haram. Mr. Mustapha’s work in the region also includes mediating between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government. His efforts have resulted in the release of more than 100 kidnapped Chibok school girls. More recently, Mustapha donated acres of his own land to 800 displaced families. Building a water irrigation pump and shelter, these families are now able to support themselves and sell their produce at local markets.

 

Speakers for Breakout session 6 B

Image of Mr. Michael O’Connell at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Mr. Michael O’Connell

Consultant Victimologist and former Commissioner for Victims' Rights of South Australia, Australia

Mr. O'Connell is the Immediate Past Secretary-General of the World Society of Victimology. He is a Vice President for the NGO Alliance on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a board member of Victim Support Asia, and a member of the International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence. He served as South Australia’s first Commissioner for Victims’ Rights; and prior to this he was the first Victims of Crime Coordinator in that state. During his earlier police career, Michael was the inaugural Victim Impact Statement Coordinator. He volunteers as an expert on UN projects in relation to victims of crime and victims of terrorism; and he writes and lectures in the fields of Victimology and Criminal Justice. Furthermore, he is a Member of the Order of Australia.

Image of the Ms. Ana Evans at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Ms. Ana Evans

Victim of terrorism, Argentina

Ms. Ana Evans is the widow of Hernán Mendoza. On 31 October 2017, Mr. Mendoza was killed in a terrorist attack, while travelling with friends on a bike path in New York City. Since the cruel attack, Ms. Evans’ life, and the lives of her three children, have changed forever. Ms. Evans is the Coordinator of the newly created Victims of Terrorism Programme of the FININT Foundation. She works to build a support network for victims of terrorism and their families, to channel their needs and rights, and ensuring they receive psychological assistance. She advocates for an international cooperation mechanism that represents cross-border victims in judicial processes.

Image of Col. Magistrate Didier Sipa Ndongmo at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Col. Magistrate Didier Sipa Ndongmo

Director of Military Justice, Ministry of Defence, Cameroon

Colonel SIPA Didier NDONGMO is Director of Military Justice with close to 30 years of experience within Military Justice both as a prosecutor and judge. He has worked as a consultant with the Global Center on Cooperative Security countering terrorism in Cameroon since 2017. He has contributed to the development of specific counterterrorism modules in capacity building of magistrates and judicial police officers. Colonel NDONGMO is a Focal Point on the Working Group for the Development of Legal Advisers within the Cameroon Defence Force, and worked as Prosecution Adviser at MONUSCO assisting DRC Military Courts in the investigation and prosecution of crimes of the Rome Statute.

Image of the Mr. Pascal Kober at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Mr. Pascal Kober

The Federal Government Commissioner for Persons Affected by Terrorist and Extremist Attacks Committed on National Territory, Germany

On 12 January 2022, Pascal Kober was appointed as the Federal Commissioner for Persons Affected by Terrorist and Extremist Attacks Committed on National Territory of the German Government. Soon after, on 11 March 2022, the Federal Government held for the first time the National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism. As victim commissioner, Pascal Kober acts independently and is supported by his secretariat at the Federal Ministry of Justice. Pascal Kober is a Member of the German Parliament.

Image of Mr. Levent Altan at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Mr. Levent Altan

Executive Director, Victim Support Europe

Levent is currently Executive Director of Victim Support Europe. As lead on terrorism issues he set up VSE’s response network, oversaw the EU Commission’s Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism and has provided expertise and training to the UN, national governments, public enquiries and scientific committees. Prior to this, he led a Justice team in a Consultancy and enjoyed a ten year career in the UK and European Civil Services. He worked on justice, immigration and terrorism in the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Cabinet Office, and in the European Commission, he developed the EU’s policy on victims’ rights, including the EU Directive on minimum rights for victims.

Image of Dr. Deborah Casalin at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2022

Dr. Deborah Casalin

Principal Research Fellow, Antwerpen University, South Africa

Dr Deborah Casalin is a postdoctoral researcher focusing on reparations and durable solutions for displaced people in international law, as well as how these issues intersect with development. Prior to joining academia, she worked for several years in the humanitarian and development sectors, mainly in relation to international humanitarian and human rights law. She holds a PhD in Law from the University of Antwerp (Belgium), a Master of Laws from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), an LLM from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Switzerland), and an LLB from the Nelson Mandela University (South Africa).