'The bereaved, injured and their carers will be represented': Northern Ireland group welcomes UK's first victims of terrorism day, calling on Republic to follow suit
A Northern Ireland group has welcomed the UK’s official first day for terror victims, stating “the bereaved, injured and their carers will be represented” at a London event – including those from Ulster.
And they’re calling on the Republic to follow suit, arguing it would be “fitting” for the same date to be marked over the border as well.
The organisation SEFF says tomorrow’s ‘National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism’ is a vital step in recognising those who lost their lives and their grieving family members, as well as maimed or traumatised survivors of attacks.
Set up by the UK government to tie in with an international day on the same theme that happens every August 21 and is run by the United Nations.
As the News Letter revealed yesterday the event will see SEFF send a delegation of 20 people from Ulster as part of a gathering of 300 in London.
Said the director of the victims’ group, Kenny Donaldson: “We warmly welcome the establishment of a designated UK national day for the innocent victims and survivors of terrorism, it’s something that we and others have campaigned about for many years.
"We have also formally requested that the Republic of Ireland does likewise. It would be fitting for that nation to also adopt August 21, given its close connections to the UN.”
Tomorrow afternoon’s event in London brings together British people who have been impacted by terrorism, whether at home or abroad. As Mr Donaldson told the News Letter: “The bereaved, injured and their carers will all be represented at this inaugural event.”
SEFF hopes to see specific events organised by the UK’s various regions from next year, and plans to call on assemblies and councils to organise initiatives spotlighting the issues and needs of terrorism victims and survivors.
Mr Donaldson says he’d also like to see illuminations of civic buildings extended to include the August 21 victims’ day.
“The same recognition must be afforded to innocent victims and survivors of terrorism here as there will be across the United Kingdom, and across other nations of the world,” he said. “This designated day must represent a genuine call to action.”