7 June 2022, Rome – This morning will take place a high-level conference on the parliamentary support to victims of terrorism, co-organized by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), the United Nations Office of Counter-terrorism (UNOCT), OSCE PA, the African Parliamentary Union (APU), and the Shura Council of the State of Qatar.
The high-level conference follows the launch, last January, of the UN Model Legislative Provisions for the victims of terrorism, to which PAM has substantially contributed during the consultations phase that took place in 2020. The aim of the event is to bring together several stakeholders, identify lasting solutions, and make a parliamentary contribution to global efforts in counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism, with robust action and a real impact on communities that have fallen victims to terrorist acts.
The conference will also serve as opportunity to introduce the Model Legislative Provisions to parliamentarians, who will be key in ensuring that parliaments include them in their national legislations.
PAM President, Hon. Gennaro Migliore, will deliver the Opening Remarks, together with Hon. Ettore Rosato, Vice-President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies; a representative of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar; Mr. Mauro Miedico, UNOCT; H.E. Mohamed Ali Houmed, President of the African Parliamentary Union; and Hon. Reinhold Lopatka, Vice-President and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Counter-Terrorism of OSCE PA.
Among the keynote speakers, Hon. Tarek Noseir, Member of Arab Parliament and Member of the House of Representatives of Egypt; Mr. Gonzalo de Salazar, Deputy Head of Mission of Spain to Italy (on behalf of the Group of Friend of Victims of Terrorism); Mr. Vittorio Occorsio, Founder of the Vittorio Occorsio Foundation; and Hon. Professor Jacqueline Odoul, Chair of the IPU High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism and Member of the National Assembly of Kenya.
During the event, Hon. Dherar Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, PAM Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, and Victims of Terrorism (UAE), will present a report on crimes against women and children in conflict and terrorism settings.
The support to the victims of terrorism remains a priority on the agenda of PAM. PAM will continue to encourage its national parliaments to harmonize legislations and effectively synchronize parliamentary efforts with the global counter-terrorism strategy and the international instruments to support victims of terrorism.//