Rabat – The ministerial segment of the Conference on African Victims of Terrorism, held Tuesday in Rabat, endorsed the Rabat Declaration, which reaffirms the central position of victims in national and regional responses to terrorism and calls for strengthening the legal, institutional, and operational frameworks dedicated to their protection.
The Declaration calls for a comprehensive and solidarity-based approach built on the rights, dignity, and participation of victims in the development and implementation of counterterrorism policies. It encourages African states to consolidate their national mechanisms, harmonize their legal frameworks in accordance with international best practices, and guarantee victims access to justice and remembrance.
It also highlights the need to develop multidimensional support mechanisms, particularly in terms of psychosocial support, economic support, medical assistance, and legal protection, with a particular focus on women, children, vulnerable individuals, and the most affected communities.
The Declaration in turn highlights the importance of cooperation between African States and United Nations entities through the exchange of expertise, training, and the mobilization of international partners.
The text also recognizes the central role of victims and survivors in preventing radicalization and combating extremist ideologies. It promotes their meaningful participation in public policy, while striving for a strengthened cooperation between African States and UN entities.
The ministerial segment concluded with a unanimous call to further the momentum generated in Rabat, strengthen national capacities for victim support, and enshrine initiatives to integrate survivors into strategies to prevent and combat violent extremism.
