Pakistani stories represented at the third International Day for the Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism

The third International Day for the Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was marked on 21 August.

UNOCT/UNCCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme seeks to stand in solidarity with victims and to provide outreach, awareness raising and capacity building activities to both Member States and other partners and to provide guidance to policy makers and practitioners on support and assistance to victims of terrorist attacks. Like everything else, this year’s event was shifted to a virtual event due to the ongoing pandemic.

The process of grieving and the resultant coping mechanism is as unique to everyone as their own fingerprints. However, following the path of empathy from everyone makes the battle bearable.

This year as COVID-19 pressed the pause button for the whole world, it became a threat to everyone’s physical and mental health. Individual’s coping mechanisms were disrupted and that added to their problems. The United Nations shared a short documentary; Not Forgotten: Stories of Remembrance from Victims of Terrorism, which covered the stories of ten individuals from around the world who lost loved ones to terrorism. It includes the story of Tahir W. Malik, who lost his wife in an attack in Islamabad. She was working with the United Nations World Food Programme at the time.

It takes a lot of courage to rise above your grief and be a source of strength to others and Dr Fatima Haider, the co-founder of The Grief Directory is one such individual. After losing her husband and son (Dr Ali Haider and Murtaza Haider), she ended up creating a platform where the families of victims of terrorism can get practical help with managing their life. The platform also trains volunteers who can be a source of empathy and help for these individuals.

At the UN’s virtual event survivors spoke about remembrance on their own terms and sharing their individual experiences, journey and the impact of the pandemic on them. Dr Fatima Ali Haider, was one of the speakers and talked about her own tragedy along with recommending steps that would help the victims and survivors of political and religious terrorism.

She said that, “COVID-19 is a threat for the wellbeing of all, but especially victims because most of the support is being redirected towards the pandemic. This has serious consequences for the victims in countries like Pakistan where there is no institutionalized support beyond the one time financial compensation.”

Dr Fatima welcomed the resolution calling upon member states to develop comprehensive assistance plans and urged them to create and implement, in consultation with victims, legislation to assist victims of terrorism, also covering earlier terrorist incidents.

“We also hope to better memorialize the lives lost, by building monuments, dedicating sections in museums, and establishing national days of remembrance. This acknowledgement is essential but impossible without state support. As a young volunteer once told me: It is crucial that we recognize the face, the family and the community behind each number that we quote as casualties of terrorism.”

Originally published at https://pk.mashable.com on August 27, 2020.