Conclusion of the High-Level Parliamentary Conference on “Parliamentary Support to Victims of Terrorism”

The High-Level Parliamentary Conference on “Parliamentary Support to Victims of Terrorism,” organized by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the African Parliamentary Union and the Shura Council of the State of Qatar in Rome on June 7-8, 2022, concluded its works.

The Moroccan delegation that took part in the Conference included:

• Rep. Mohamed Sabbari, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives;
• Rep. Abdelaziz Lachehab, a member of the Board of the House of Representatives. 

The agenda of the Conference included four working sessions that covered the following themes:

1. Role of parliamentarians in providing adequate responses in the area of mass transportation and violations of the rights of victims of terrorism to life, housing, education, health treatments, and freedom;
2. Role of civil society groups and organizations in complementing the efforts of States and parliaments in supporting the victims of terrorism and ensuring their access to justice;
3. Inclusion of national protection and support, including the social and material needs of the victims of terrorism in the anti-terrorism strategies and laws of countries;
4. Best practices and lessons drawn in the area of supporting the victims of terrorism at the regional and national level and the importance of organizing and exchanging information regarding the good practices.

The opening session featured the attendance of an important number of Speakers of the African, Arab, and European legislative assemblies, offices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Center, and many actors and experts in the area. On this occasion, several addresses were given, and they all agreed on the importance of the theme under discussion.

In his address, Rep. Abdelaziz Lachehab, member of the Board of the House of Representatives, focused on:

• Role of parliamentarians in supporting the victims of terrorism;
• Importance of intensifying efforts at the national, regional, and international levels and exploiting best practices in the area of supporting victims of terrorism;
• Urging the neighboring countries to break with the outdated doctrines and support the efforts aiming at countering terrorism and violent extremism in all their aspects, especially in the North-West African region.

It should be noted that the Moroccan delegation held several talks, on the sidelines of the Conference, with a number of heads of the participating delegations. During the talks, the parties discussed the means to consolidate cooperation and give new impetus to the relations linking the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco and the legislative assemblies of the delegations