Morocco to host first conference for African victims of terrorism
At a Ministerial Level meeting held by African member states, African countries discuss countering terrorism and strengthening regional cooperation (via UN)
An official Moroccan announcement stated that Rabat will be the host to the first international conference for African victims of terrorism, which will be held on December 2nd-3rd, according to a report by APA.
The conference will include representatives of African governments, associations of African victims of terrorism, international and regional organisations, as well as researchers and experts on the topic.
This conference focuses on the African victims of terrorism, with talks discussing their point of view, including survivors’ roles in prevention and resilience initiatives, through testimonies, experiences, and participation in the reconstruction of the affected communities.
They will also discuss the challenges victims face in legal, institutional, and socio-economic contexts, as well as the consequences of terrorism.
In June, Rabat was host to a United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Conference of West African Experts on Countering Terrorist Threats to Vulnerable Targets. The conference focused on strengthening regional cooperation to address threats to “vulnerable targets,” such as critical infrastructure and public spaces, and on sharing best practices to prevent or respond to terrorist attacks.
The conferences are a part of the UNOCT’s programme for Africa, of which Morocco is home to its Programme Office through their joint partnership.
The December conference is organised in collaboration with the UNOCT by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moroccans Living Abroad, and the African Cooperation.
The initiative, when announced in the UN, was said to empower African victims of terrorism against radicalisation and terrorism. The Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs noted that, “behind every life lost to terrorism, there are families and entire communities marked in the long term by psychological trauma and material hardship.”
He claimed that Africa was paying a heavy price for the number of people killed in terrorist attacks, and urged for an “institutionalised mechanisms tailored specifically to the African context, in order to address the concrete needs of victims and their communities.”
APA, United Nations, Le7tv, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
