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IFAVT Manifesto for the 6th United Nations
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism |
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Madrid,
21 August 2023 As we celebrate today the 6th United Nations International
Day of Commemoration and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, we would like
to make public some of our fundamental demands, so that both society and the
media do not forget the victims of terrorism. On
this sixth day of commemoration, the focus will be on "Legacy: finding
hope and building a better future". Today is a day to remember all the
victims of terrorism, the wounded and the broken
families that the scourge of terrorism has left around the world. They are
the force that drives us to continue fighting for the true defeat of
terrorism. That
is why today we want to claim that the "legacy" of the victims of
terrorism is not only to remember them with occasional tributes and acts of
recognition, but also to know first-hand the testimonies and stories of the
victims of terrorism in order to be able to build on
firm foundations the true history of terrorism. In this way and only in this
way, we could guarantee that the past will never be repeated, because the victims’
voices and experiences are essential to build a healthy society. The
importance of the legacy of the victims of terrorism is fundamental for
future generations to know the truth and to neutralise any attempt to impose
a manipulated and false narrative of the history of terrorism. To be able to
talk about the future our children must be aware of the reality of the past. More
than ever, it is vitally important that the legacy of the victims of
terrorism appears in textbooks and that victims offer their direct testimony
in classrooms. For
some time now, Europe has been carrying out important work in the fight
against radicalisation, which is essential to prevent new attacks from
continuing to cause more victims, more bereaved families and more pain and
suffering. But undoubtedly, the focus should be on the victims of terrorism, that
is why today we ask all citizens to unite with us to keep their voices alive,
because our experience and our legacy is a basic pillar to build a future
free of fear and terror. We cannot over-emphasize the role of the media, because they are a vital tool to give a voice to
the victims of terrorism, otherwise they are absent and vetoed in the public
space resulting in marginalisation and social death. Global
terrorism is a major threat to our rights and freedom. Ending global
terrorism is extraordinarily complicated. It is an unprecedented challenge to
the values of Western civilisation: democracy, human rights, individual
freedom, pluralism, open societies. Europe stands for all these and more, and
that is what terrorism tries to undermine through their criminal and cowardly
acts. Terrorism,
in general, seeks to impose an ideological, fanatical
and totalitarian project through the violation of fundamental human rights
and by terrorising society. That is why we need to stand strong together to
confront those who defend totalitarian political projects based on the
physical elimination of those who think differently. By
denouncing terrorism in all its forms, we build bridges between
civilisations. From our common suffering, we send messages of peace and
justice, of humanity and respect. On this particular day of
the 21st of August, we reach out to you and society in general, to
unite with the victims to defeat violent extremism and terrorism. IFAVT - International Federation
of Associations of Victims of Terrorism AVT - Asociación
Víctimas del Terrorismo V-Europe
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Based in Paris, France |
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