The VIIth International Congress of Victims of Terrorism September 15, 2011

The International Centre for Victims of Terrorism of the San Pablo CEU University Foundation is the institution that established the International Congresses of Victims of Terrorism, which was established to be a forum where the voice of the victims could be heard and to help them to have the recognition they deserve, both by society and authorities.

The French Association of Victims of Terrorism (AfVT.org), member of the European Network of Associations of Victims of Terrorism (NAVT), in partnership with the International Observatory for the Victims of Terrorism (CEU), organized the VIIth International Congress of Victims of Terrorism that recently took place September 15-17, 2011 at the amphitheatre Foch of the Military School of Paris.

This was the first time that the International Congress of Victims of Terrorism took place outside a  Spanish speaking country.  The VIIth International Congress of Victims of Terrorism in Paris included representation of victims of terrorism from 29 different countries around the world and included victims, civil society actors, political leaders, representatives of various institutions, international experts and journalists.

Sarri Singer, Founder and Director of Strength to Strength attended the Congress and participated in a panel with other victims from countries including Columbia, Russia and Iran. Guillaume de Saint-Marc, Moderator of the panel, lost his father in the 1989 bombing of a French airliner and is the Director of the Association of French Victims of Terrorism. Guillaume introduced Sarri by highlighting his  organizations participation and partnership in the Young Ambassadors Program where participants from France who were injured in a terrorist attack in Cairo, returned after the week-long program empowered. Guillaume encouraged every organization working with young victims to join in such an important and worthwhile program.

Each particpant on the panel was asked to answer two questions. Sarri began by briefly discussing her story of surviving the #14 bus bombing in Jerusalem, Israel on June 11, 2003 and the importance of focusing on long-term needs of victims and their families. The first question she was asked was about the Congressional Hearing in Washington, DC that she participated in when she returned to the United States after her attack in July 2003 and what available resources victims have in the United States.

She began by stating "First, I would like to note that it was an honor to testify before members of Congress.  Although the right to petition our government is foundational to our participatory Democracy, I realize few people have the opportunity to testify on Capitol Hill. Being afforded such an honor does not come without a price.  That price is responsibility. I fully understood the importance of my message on behalf of victims of terror, and I take my continued role in that advocacy very seriously. Nothing in politics can be taken for granted.  Even the most common sense legislation to assist those who have suffered traumatic and incredible loss is filtered through the prism of political considerations. Having a full understanding of the political process served to increase my personal responsibility.  Not only would I have to make a compelling case on behalf of terror victims, I would have to make a compelling case that passes political muster in a hyper partisan political atmosphere. There is a misconception that’s presented with a clear problem - government can create policy to address it.  Things are never that easy.  Even when a political consensus is reached, there is no guarantee that the ensuing policy will have the intended impact.

That being said, after addressing congressional leaders they asked many questions and wanted to know where they could assist victims and their families. Due to the work of various American victims of terrorism, in 2005 the Office for Victims Crimes established a division for American victims of international terror to work directly with the ongoing needs of victims and their families. More recently The International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) was established to offer for those who suffered a direct physical or emotional injury as a result of an act of international terrorism, or if a family member was murdered as a direct result of an act of international terrorism, American victims may be eligible to receive reimbursement through this new program.

Even in the difficult political climate, the policies put into place make a huge difference for victims – as much as we are grateful for what the government has done so far, there is a constant need for more services and I will continue to try to advocate on their behalf so victims get the attention that they need".

Sarri was also asked whether her mission in life had changed after what she had been through and she responded by saying:

"The purpose of my mission remains unchanged.  Sometime the most horrific events are the motivation for action.  It’s difficult to find anything positive or a sense of meaning in an act of terror, but by helping others who have gone through similar experiences and bringing victims of terrorism together globally is the most important way for us to heal from what we have been through and to combat the hate that each of us have faced. We coordinate monthly meetings in New York City for victims and family members, both therapeutic and recreational with our Survivors Circle group in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and healing. We are continuously connecting with existing organizations around the world that are working directly with victims of terrorism in their respective countries. Most recently, we ran our Young Ambassadors Program where we brought together participants who had either lost a parent or family member to terrorism or were injured themselves. They spent a week in New York City sight-seeing and sharing their personal stories with political and community leaders and each other. The week was one of hope and self affirmation.  Life must and can go on even after the most unimaginable sorrow. The Young Ambassadors Program allowed its participants to find the sense of healing involved in advocating on behalf of others.  Each could express his/her own story of loss, but collectively their impact was felt by all those who encountered them.

This is a club that no one wants to join.  The power of this organization is its ability to understand that which only other victims can understand and provide the most effective kind of healing for victims and family members.

I believe my personal mission after surviving is to continue to find the positive in this awful experience and use it to advocate for victims and assist in making the lives of victims and their family members better for the future."