'Together, our voice is louder and can drive change': NI victims group joins international allies to mark day against terrorism
A Northern Ireland victims group has joined fellow organisations internationally, fighting to mark those who died at the hands of terrorists and the grieving relatives they left behind.
SEFF has regularly observed the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, which was established by the United Nations in 2017.
Happening this Friday, the day has now also been adopted as UK National Day for Victims of Terrorism. It’s to be formally inaugurated in London with an event for 300 survivors and relatives of those killed, 20 of whom will be representatives of Ulster sent by SEFF.
In advance of the major event, the group today linked up with fellow organisations from across Europe, crossing national borders to mark the fact that terrorism doesn’t respect geographical boundaries and can strike anywhere.
Today, SEFF held an online symposium that brought them together with the Spanish Colectivo de Victimas del Terrorismo (COVITE) and Victims of Terrorism Germany (VoT).
Among those taking part were women who had lost relatives to terror attacks – Tanya Williams-Powell, whose grandfather Thomas Niedermayer, a German industrialist who ran an electronics factory in Belfast, was abducted and killed by the IRA shortly after Christmas in 1973; and Nora Zapf, a German victim whose grandparents were murdered by an Islamic State suicide bomber in Istanbul in 2016.
According to SEFF director Kenny Donaldson, their contributions were among the most powerful in an event that reinforced the need for human connection and solidarity between nations, as “terrorism has worked across borders ever since its inception, and so too must the victims of terrorism”.
He stated: “Together the voice is louder; potentially, together the voice can be more coherent and transform the circumstances of the world we collectively inhabit.”
All three of the victims groups support victims and survivors at the coalface, Mr Donaldson added, while pressing for changes to policies and structures to help those ravaged by terrorism.
“We have a long association with COVITE, stretching back for a decade now,” he said. “We have worked together on a range of projects, have participated in each other's conferences and seminars, produced a joint memorial quilt, and campaigned together on issues impacting victims and survivors of terrorism.
“We welcome the opportunity to further extend our relationships by working with VoT Germany, formed in the aftermath of the 2016 Berlin Christmas markets attack.
“Over the years we have realised the common experience that those we support share with other innocents impacted by terrorism; neither language, nor ethnicity need be a barrier in the effort to collaborate together.
“We commend the focus of both COVITE and VoT to do right by their respective constituencies, provide the best possible services, push for just redress and hold accountable terrorist organisations and movements – as well as those who try to minimise terrorism and its effects.”
Turning to this Friday’s events, Mr Donaldson welcomed the UK’s formal adoption of a day to recognise victims of terrorism.
“It’s important for this designated day to be marked across the nation from next year onwards, and for local assemblies and other public authorities to observe the day and arrange events around it," he said. “Civic society must also come on board to show solidarity with a group of people who have been marginalised and even scapegoated.”