3^rd Ministerial Meeting of Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism

[11.30AM, 22 September 2022; Instituto Cervantes, 211 east, 49th st.]  

Intervention for Secretary (West)

Excellencies and distinguished delegates,

Let me thank the co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Victim of Terrorism (GOFVOT), Iraq and Spain for organizing today’s Ministerial meeting of the Group. Today’s meeting is coming right in time after successful organization of the first Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism 2 weeks ago. I congratulate both co-chairs and Mr Vladimir Voronkov, the Under Secretary General for Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) for their efforts in realizing this event, in which several victims of terrorism from around the globe, including two from India participated, shared their experiences, and called for actions by the global community to protect their rights.

2.    As our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasized: “Terrorism is a threat to humanity”. Indeed, terrorism is an attack on the values that define the international community and seriously impairs the enjoyment of human rights including the right to life. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to human rights abuses by terrorists. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to root out terrorism to protect human rights, including the rights of victims and their families.

3.    As USG Voronkov mentioned in the closing of the Congress, that our solidarity and support for victims should continue to move from rhetoric to reality. And I can’t agree more. While we continue to work towards improving our legislative and national systems to support rights and needs of victims of terrorism, we should not and must not lose sight of the right of justice to the victims of cross-border terrorism. 

4.    As a country which herself has been a victim of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism for past 3 decades, India understands the human cost of terrorism, and its lasting impact on the victims and families of the victims. This needs a mention that even after several decades, the victims’ of 1992 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, and numerous other cross-border terrorist attacks, including 2008 Mumbai attacks, 2016 Pathankot attacks and 2019 Pulwama attacks, the victims of these terrorist attacks yet to get justice. 

5.    The pain and suffering of victims and families multiply when their right to justice is denied as the perpetrators, facilitators, and financiers of these attacks continue to walk free, enjoying support and hospitality of a neighboring state. What could be ironic than this that the same country beats the rhetoric of playing victim of terrorism. This is the country which nurtures terrorists in their backyard in the hope that they will only harm their neighbors. Our region, and in fact the entire world, has suffered because of their policies. India remains committed to a “zero tolerance” policy to terrorism and to bringing the perpetrators of these terror attacks on our soil to justice.

5.    While India will make all efforts to address the rights and needs of its victims of terrorism, we will continue to support the activities of the Group of Friends, as well as UNOCT, which has put a spotlight on this issue. During the 7^th review resolution of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, my delegation contributed constructively to strengthen the language of provisions related to victims of terrorism in pillar of the strategy. 

6.    India assumed the Chair of Counter Terrorism Committee for the year 2022, and one of our priorities is to focus on the issues related to victims of terrorism and enhancing their as well as role of victims’ network in countering terrorist narratives. We have invited several victims of terrorism in Committee’s open meetings to share their experiences and work aimed at countering terrorist narratives.

7.    We welcome the various initiatives proposed by UNOCT at the closing session of the first Global Congress, such as publishing a Handbook of Best Practices for Member States in assisting Victims of Terrorism and launch the UNOCT Victims of Terrorism Association Network (VOTAN) in 2023. India will contribute to realize these initiatives in the best possible ways.

8.     Lack of financial resources sometimes plays a significant handicap for member states willing to protect the rights of victims of terrorism, address their needs and maximize their benefits. We support Secretary General’s suggestion for establishment of a voluntarily funded comprehensive programme to support Member States in assisting victims of terrorism through national systems. We can opt for a funding mechanism which is tested and need less operational overheads. Such voluntary fund could be finance partly through the assets seized from terrorist organizations, their members and sponsors. UNSC Resolution 1566 provides necessary framework in this regard, therefore, member states must show strong political will to establish such mechanism.

9.     We also support the call for updating the resolution on victims of terrorism. Such resolution should also address the right to justice to the victims of cross-border terrorism, where the perpetrators of terrorist acts are located across the border. We stand ready to support this endeavor.

10.     To conclude, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to the plight and issues faced by victims of terrorism.  We will continue to remain engaged with the Group of Friends of Victim of Terrorism, UNOCT and other entities to stand for the victims of terrorism.

I thank you.