Rabat: Ministers attending the Conference on African Victims of Terrorism adopted the Rabat Declaration, a document reaffirming the centrality of victims in national and regional responses to terrorism. The declaration also calls for strengthening legal and institutional frameworks dedicated to protecting victims. According to Angola Press News Agency, a press release from the Angolan embassy in Morocco outlined that the Declaration recommends a comprehensive approach based on the rights, dignity, and participation of victims in the development and implementation of counterterrorism policies. The declaration encourages African states to consolidate national mechanisms and harmonize legal frameworks in accordance with international standards and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that victims have access to justice, psychological support, medical assistance, and legal protection. It highlights the importance of multidimensional assistance mechanisms, paying particular attention to women, children, vulner able individuals, and affected communities. Additionally, the declaration emphasizes the importance of cooperation between African states and the United Nations through the exchange of experiences, specialized training, and mobilizing international partners. The declaration highlights the essential role of survivors in preventing radicalization and combating extremist ideologies and emphasizes the importance of their effective participation in defining public policies. It concludes with an appeal to maintain and strengthen the momentum generated in Rabat by reinforcing national and regional capacities to support victims and integrating survivors into strategies for preventing and combating violent extremism. Angola was represented at the conference by Domingos Lufungula, the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Services (SIC).
