In June 2019, INVICTM (International Network Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence) held its third international symposium in Strasbourg, France. The theme of the event was ‘International Cooperation – Working Together to Better Support Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence’.
INVICTM was established in June 2016 as an independent, international discussion group of experts from state and non-state bodies that shares ideas, experiences, and lessons learned with respect to response strategies for victims in the context of mass victimisation and terrorist incidents. They also host an annual International Symposium which brings together experts from many countries.
The 2019 edition focused on meeting the needs of cross-border victims through international cooperation, both in the immediate aftermath and the long term response. Cross-border victims often face specific challenges, such as not speaking the national language, differences in culture and the distance from home. In order to provide high quality and adapted care for this group of victims, the symposium highlighted the following four principles that should be taken into account:
- The importance of continuing the response for cross-border victims beyond the immediate aftermath into the medium and long-term
- A high quality response to cross-border victims requires advanced planning and preparation
- Supporting cross-border victims implies efforts from both the country where the incidents took place and their own country
- Improving international cooperation to ensure an effective and qualitative response to cross-border victims
This report reflects the discussions held during the symposium and includes various practical insights and solutions.
You can access the full report here.
