Honouring victims of terrorism
UN and Indonesia team up for peace initiative
THE United Nations joined forces with Indonesia’s Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) for a peace initiative called the Guyub Project to honour victims of terrorism in the country as the world observed the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
The UN and LPSK held several online events yesterday, where survivors of terrorist attacks shared their stories.
LPSK also instated a national moment of silence to be held every year in recognition of those who had been harmed or killed by terrorism.
“A fundamental component of any effective response to terrorism is upholding the rights and needs of victims and survivors,” UN Office on Drugs and Crime country manager for Indonesia Collie F. Brown said in a statement on Friday.
“This annual occasion provides the UN and our close partners an opportunity to stop and reflect on the experiences of victims and survivors, as well as to ask ourselves some hard questions.
“What can we do to better recognise their tremendous sacrifice?” he added.
According to LPSK head Hasto Atmojo Suroto, the recently issued Government Regulation No. 35/2020 had increased the government’s support for victims of terrorism.
The regulation provides a path for victims and their families to seek state compensation through LPSK without having to obtain a court order.
“With these more facilitative laws, LPSK and other related agencies can directly take quick steps to provide a pathway towards optimising the fulfillment of victims’ rights,” Hasto noted.
He added that the regulation sought to address disparities in justice among victims of terrorism.