EU-Pakistan cooperation to support victims of terrorist attacks in Pakistan
Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism- with the financial support of the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), organized a three-day consultative workshop on identifying and planning for the psychosocial support needs of victims of terrorism in Pakistan.
The workshop, which took place in Islamabad from 5 to 7 February 2025, brought together all key stakeholders, including policymakers, victim support officers, and representatives from health departments across Pakistan.
15 participants, 2 of whom were women, participated in discussions aimed at identifying existing services and identifying gaps in the provision of psychosocial, legal and financial assistance to victims of terrorism. The event facilitated dialogue between national and provincial actors and ensured a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of victims. Representatives from Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provided insights into existing health services, trauma counseling, and financial assistance programs, highlighting best practices and areas that need immediate improvement.
The workshops focused on:
Psychosocial support and trauma counseling: Increasing access to mental health care, social support networks, and health services.
Financial assistance and employment support: Strengthening compensation mechanisms through programs such as Zakat to create sustainable economic stability for victims and their families.
Legal framework and institutional coordination: Establishing a centralized database for victim support to streamline assistance and ensure efficient service delivery.
Training and capacity-building: Developing training programs for victim support officers (VSOs) to improve their ability to provide immediate and long-term assistance.
During the opening remarks, Mr. Mohammad Ali Rajput, Program Officer at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, emphasized the role of the workshop in shaping long-term policy recommendations to enhance the resilience of victims of terrorism.
A key outcome of the workshop was the development of strategies to improve psychosocial support and trauma counseling for victims of terrorism. Discussions highlighted the need to scale up mental health services, increase access to professional counseling, and build community-based support systems to help survivors rehabilitate.
