Summit to unite terror victims

Source The Asian News

A CONFERENCE will bring together victims of terrorism from across Europe to share their experiences.

The Voice of the Victims conference is being organised by the Warrington-based Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace and the European Network of Victims of terrorism.

It will include testimonies from those affected by the London bombings, the Madrid train blasts, the Omagh bombing and other terrorist attacks across the world.

The accounts are expected to focus on how victims have been able to transform their lives in a positive way, in the wake of their traumatic experiences.

"This will be a chance for victims to challenge the stereotype that being a victim means you are powerless," said Foundation spokeswoman Jo Dover.

"The speakers will show the many different ways in which they have gone on to change their lives for the better.

"It is an opportunity for victims across Europe to show solidarity with each other and feel less isolated in their experience."

The event tomorrow is the first of four events planned by the foundation across Europe - in Amsterdam, Madrid and Turin.

It will also launch the Foundation's Survivors for Peace programme, which will offer people affected by conflict and terrorism an opportunity to use their experiences to make a positive contribution to peace in their own communities.

Ms Dover said: "We are also delighted to be launching our Survivors for Peace programme at this event and would invite anyone interested in taking part in our programme to visit our website -foundation4peace.org - or contact the team at the Foundation."