By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino
Migliore
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See
62nd Session of the UN General Assembly
The Secretary-General’s Symposium on
“Supporting Victims of Terrorism”
New York, 9 September 2008Mr. Chairman,
This meeting comes at an opportune time as it allows us to complement our
primarily practical debate on how to fight terrorism with an indispensable
attention to the fundamental needs of those who are directly harmed by terrorist
acts.
My delegation welcomes this meeting as an opportunity to express our solidarity
with the victims of terrorism and to discuss ways to best address their
physical, mental and spiritual needs. Terrorist acts deny people not only their
fundamental human rights but also strike at the very heart of the things we hold
close: our families, our homes and our basic trust in humanity. By hearing the
voices of victims and remembering those whose voices have been taken, we are
given the opportunity of finding ways to rebuild lives, alleviate suffering and
end the senseless cycles of violence and hatred.
The Holy See continues to hold the needs of victims as a preeminent concern and
priority. Shortly after the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001, His
Holiness John Paul II called for a day of fasting and solidarity in order to
support those affected by the consequences of terrorism and war and to encourage
healing among various faiths and cultures. This event, coinciding with the last
day of Ramadan, provided an opportunity for intercultural and interfaith
condemnation of terrorism while simultaneously remembering and honoring those
whose lives were lost. The money raised around the world during this event went
to assist the victims of 9/11 and other terrorist attacks.
This is only one example of the many ways in which the Holy See and other
related organizations provide immediate assistance to victims of terrorist
activities and those who live in conflict-affected regions, the initial causes
of which are linked to or perpetuated by terrorist activity. They have also
provided counseling, food, security and shelter to victims of terrorism in all
corners of the globe. The direct involvement of these organizations demonstrates
yet again the valuable contribution of civil society organizations to promoting
human rights and human dignity.
While these organizations and many other civil society and faith-based
organizations provide immediate legal, social and material assistance, greater
efforts must be made to address the long-term spiritual and psychological
effects of terrorism. Centers that provide grief counseling and spiritual
support serve as a vital component in helping victims cope with their loss but
also lay the ground work for preventing reprisals and continued violence.
Programs which provide restorative justice to the victims of terrorism help to
alleviate the continuous cycles of violence, hatred and mistrust.
Debates over who are victims and who are perpetrators of terrorist activities
are needed for the sake of a good anti-terrorism strategy, but they should not
cloud or obfuscate the urgency to address the immediate needs of those whose
lives and livelihoods are lost by this direct affront to humanity. The recent
adoption of the biennial review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
provides a coherent means for addressing international terrorism but continued
efforts must be made to ensure that those who are the victims of terrorist
activity are provided not only a voice but a helping hand.
Mr. Chairman,
In the end, terrorist activity does nothing to promote authentic political or
social aims but only ensures the creation of more victims. Whether these victims
are created as a result of initial terrorist activity or as a result of
indiscriminate reactions to terrorist actions, the cycle of violence begets only
suffering, fear and hatred. While we rightly condemn all acts of terrorism, care
must be taken in order to give a voice to those whose voices have been
wrongfully taken.
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