The Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) of Angola, Pedro Lufungula, stated that there is a need to strengthen support and resilience mechanisms for those harmed by terrorism in Africa. He spoke on the sidelines of the 1st International Conference on African Victims of Terrorism, which concluded this Wednesday (3) in the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Pedro Lufungula, quoted by Angop, said that the continent faces severe human consequences caused by terrorism, which requires coordinated and sustainable actions for the prevention, protection and assistance of affected populations.
The SIC official stated that the initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, with support from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), places victims at the centre of strategic debates on combating violent extremism and building more effective African responses.
At the opening ceremony, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, called for an ambitious and determined continental approach based on the dignity of victims, justice and collective responsibility in the face of the resurgence of the terrorist threat.
The minister said the conference marked an important milestone in the reconstruction of African strategies, by placing survivors at the centre of public policies and regional efforts to combat violent extremism.
He also stressed that victims must be seen as active agents of prevention and community resilience. Bourita recalled that Africa remains the region most affected by terrorism, with a sharp increase in attacks, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa, where violence has caused thousands of deaths, mass displacement, school abandonment, the destruction of entire communities and the weakening of social cohesion.
The discussions focused on the role of survivors in prevention initiatives, the sharing of testimonies and the rebuilding of affected communities.
Participants also addressed the human consequences of terrorism and the legal, institutional and socioeconomic challenges linked to supporting victims.
Rabat Declaration
The 1st Conference on African Victims of Terrorism reaffirmed, in Rabat (Morocco), the commitment to place victims of terrorist acts at the centre of all national and regional responses against this threat.
At the meeting, where Angola was represented by the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), Pedro Lufungula, ministers called for strengthening legal and institutional frameworks dedicated to their protection.
The Rabat Declaration, according to a press note from the Embassy of Angola in Morocco, recommends a comprehensive approach based on the rights, dignity and participation of victims in the design and implementation of counter-terrorism policies.
It also encourages African states to strengthen their national mechanisms, harmonise their legal frameworks in line with international standards, and ensure victims have access to justice, psychological support, medical assistance and legal protection.
The text highlights the importance of multidimensional assistance mechanisms, with particular attention to women, children, vulnerable people and the most affected communities.
It also underlines the relevance of cooperation between African states and the United Nations through the exchange of experiences, specialised training and the mobilisation of international partners.
The Declaration recognises the essential role of survivors in preventing radicalisation and combating extremist ideologies, promoting their effective participation in shaping public policies.
The document concludes with a call to maintain and reinforce the momentum generated in Rabat, strengthening national and regional capacities to support victims and integrating survivors into strategies to prevent and combat violent extremism.
Source: Jornal de Angola
