On Monday 27 April, VSE Director Levent Altan took part in the INVICTM International Forum Supporting Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence, held in New York, USA. The event was organised in collaboration with VOICES Center for Resilience (VOICES) and the Leadership in Counter-Terrorism Alumni Association (LinCT-AA), with the support of the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Under the theme “Reimagining Victim Support in a Changing World: Learning from the Past – Succeeding in the Present – Preparing for the Future”, the forum provided an important opportunity to reflect on why global collaboration and victim-centred approaches are essential in preparing for and responding to acts of terrorism and mass violence.
The event brought together more than 60 participants from across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond.
Participants included victims, advocates, NGOs, law enforcement representatives, emergency management professionals, and other key stakeholders.
Discussions focused on:
- Strengthening pre-planning and response strategies – focusing on short-, medium-, and long-term approaches to supporting victims and communities following acts of terrorism and mass violence.
- Enhancing collaboration across sectors – engaging inter-agency experts to improve victim-centred approaches in law enforcement, emergency response, and wider stakeholder coordination.
- Exploring the role of AI and technology – examining how AI and emerging technologies can enhance victim services, strengthen resilience, and support law enforcement efforts.
- Shaping policy and strategic discussions – fostering high-level dialogue connecting security, resilience, health, and victim support to drive meaningful change.
- Building a global network – strengthening partnerships between international counter-terrorism leaders, victim support organisations, survivors, advocates, law enforcement, academics, and mental health professionals.
During the event, VSE Director Levent Altan moderated a panel focused on knowledge networks in the fight against crime and terrorism.
You can access Levent’s presentation slides and the conference programme below.
