The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re, was in New York today for the 74th UN General Assembly where, on the sidelines of the Assembly, she attended the first ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism. The Group, of which Italy is a founding member, was established to maintain the international community’s focus on the victims of terrorist acts, support them and give them a voice, in line with the United Nations Global Anti-Terrorism Strategy.
In the speech delivered on behalf of Italy, the Deputy Minister equated terrorist acts perpetrated “in times of peace” with war crimes in armed conflicts, recommending that special attention be given to the victims and their families: “we must never forget or neglect them “, said Del Re. She then expressed our Country’s satisfaction with the resolution, co-sponsored by Italy and unanimously approved by the UN General Assembly on June 28th, on international cooperation in assisting victims of terrorism , which “recognizes the victims’ violated rights and calls for their specific needs to be addressed”.
“We must have courage and a vision that can help us imagine a global tool that will make specialized assistance to victims possible”, said the Deputy Minister.
“Our efforts must be aimed at putting the victims at the centre of all anti-terrorism strategies from now on, so that they can become actors of change” – concluded Del Re – “Their powerful voice can help us build a society and legislation that will help us prevent repeated acts of violence ”.