[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-41px|||||” custom_padding=”33px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-19px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
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The 91茄子 was born out of an urgent call to respect and protect the rights of all.<\/p>\n
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Today, we are convened in this room to celebrate the first 91茄子 Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, to discuss how we can best \u201cadvance the rights and needs of victims of terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The 21st century has witnessed a tragic upward trend in terrorism. This is a major threat to international peace and security, and to the values we stand for.<\/p>\n
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We know the lasting impacts terrorism has on the individuals, families, communities, and societies it affects.<\/p>\n
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We also know that these negative effects disproportionaly harm women, children, and marginalized groups, whose specific needs are too often overlooked.<\/p>\n
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For these reasons, I commend the General Assembly\u2019s recent adoption of resolutions establishing the \u201cInternational Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism\u201d. I further welcome Member States\u2019 efforts in strengthening international cooperation to assist victims of terrorism.<\/p>\n
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Friends,<\/p>\n
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This issue is very dear to my heart and aligns with one of the key priorities of my Presidency of Hope: \u201crespecting the rights of all\u201d.<\/p>\n
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It is our duty, not only as members of an international organization, but as fellow human beings, to stand in solidarity with the victims of terrorism.<\/p>\n
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We must raise awareness of their needs, and do our utmost to guarantee the protection, promotion and respect of their rights.<\/p>\n
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In particular, we must pay special attention to the return, inclusion and well-being of those in precarious situations.<\/p>\n
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Excellencies,<\/p>\n
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It must be noted that most victims of terrorism are innocent citizens who find themselves at the wrong place and at the wrong time, randomly targeted in brutal attacks.<\/p>\n
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The lives of survivors of attacks, and those of victims\u2019 families, are irreparably damaged.<\/p>\n
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Many survivors take years to recover physically from their injuries or come to terms with their losses, and many remain deeply traumatized.<\/p>\n
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While States take terrorism very seriously as a security threat, they do not necessarily always ensure adequate support to victims and their families.<\/p>\n
Victims of terrorism and their families need focused and dedicated mechanisms to ensure that their rights as individuals are upheld and protected.<\/p>\n
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We need to understand that victims of terrorism have a central role to play in ensuring effective investigation and prosecution of terrorist cases. They contribute to collecting evidence, providing testimonies, identifying perpetrators and also countering extremist narratives.<\/p>\n
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In this context, the launch of the Model Legislative Provisions to support and protect the rights and needs of victims of terrorism developed by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), together with the 91茄子 Office of Counter-Terrorism and 91茄子 Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNOCT-UNCCT) and the 91茄子 Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are very much welcome.<\/p>\n
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The model legislative provisions emphasize the importance of States implementing victim-centric approaches when addressing the rights and needs of survivors.<\/p>\n
My hope is for Member States to either adopt these model legislative provisions or to review or update their existing national laws and procedures in line with the model legislative provisions to counter the dehumanization of victims of terrorism.<\/p>\n
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While I recognize and commend the progress made by Member States and the international community towards the protection and promotion of the rights of victims of terrorism, we still have a long way to go.<\/p>\n
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Indeed, international law provides rights related to remedy and reparations to victims of terrorism, but we must ensure that the victims can get to access these rights.<\/p>\n
Currently, the majority of survivors\u2019 rights are insufficiently protected, and often, they do not live to see justice.<\/p>\n
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I urge all member states to implement impactful and rule of law-based national criminal justice systems, aligned with the 91茄子 Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It is imperative that we bring perpetrators to justice, as well as those supporting or profiting from terrorist activities.<\/p>\n
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I hope that this Congress will chart a path for the recognition of the rights and needs of victims of terrorism, and generate fruitful conversations on how to better prevent and counter terrorism in all its forms.<\/p>\n
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I thank you.<\/p>\n
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UN General Assembly, New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p>
I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p>
Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p>
A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the 91茄子 Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-271467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n