TERROR VICTIMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
ANNOUNCE HISTORIC COALITION WITH 9/11 FAMILIES
International Network Will Promote Effective Solutions to
Terrorism
That Break the Cycle of Violence
New York (September 8, 2006)- With the fifth anniversary of 9/11
approaching, more than 30 terror victims from around the world joined
with families of those killed in the September 11th attacks to create a
new coalition to promote effective, nonviolent solutions to terrorism.
Gathering at a conference entitled, “Civilian Casualties, Civilian Solutions,” terror victims from 15 countries, including Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Russia, Rwanda, Colombia, Sudan, Indonesia, Algeria, Spain, and Italy pledged to use their personal experience of violence as a starting point for creating and promoting new initiatives for peace.
They issued the founding statement:
“We are a global network of organizations comprised of people who lost loved ones to, or were directly affected by, war, nuclear weapons, terrorism, genocide, organized crime, and political violence. We work together to break the cycles of violence and revenge, and are committed to honoring the memories of the victims and to the dignity of the survivors.
Using our collective experience and skills, we are dedicated to identifying and addressing the root causes of violence, and to promoting non-violence as the most effective strategy for resolving conflict.
We pledge to support and amplify each other’s efforts across diverse communities, recognizing that we derive our strength from our common experience of loss and our common hope for a world free from violence.”
Patricipants in the conference included:
Afifa Azim (Afghanistan), Afghan Women’s Network
Olga Takaeva (Russia) Mothers of Beslan
Dr, Julia Duany (Sudan) South Sudan Friends International
Asma Guenifi (Algeria) GroupHitchem
Cherifa Kheddar (Algeria) Int’l Federation of Associations of Victims of
Terrorism
Fr. Michael Lapsley and Themba Lonzi (South Africa) Institute for
Healing of Memories
Jean Baptiste Ntakirutimana (Rwanda) Orphans of Rwanda
Fr. Romain Rurangirwa (Rwanda) Roman Catholic priest
Beatriz Abril and Jesus Abril Escusa (Spain) 11-M Afectados por
Terrorismo
Jo Berry (UK), Building Bridges for Peace
William Frazier (Ireland) Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
Irene Villa Gonzalez (Spain) Author, “Know That It Can Be Done”
Dr. Juan Gutierrez (Spain) -11-M Afectados por Terrorismo
Viviana Mantragola (Italy) Liberia Association
Robi Damelin (Israel) The Parents Circle
Nadwa Sarandah (Palestine) The Parents Circle
Febby Firmansyah Isran and Jully Isran (Indonesia) Forum 58
Nakayama Takamitsu (Japan) Nihon Hidankyo
Rieko Asato (Japan) Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs
Sofia Gaviria (Colombia) Associazione Delle Vittime del Terrorismo
Marcia Scantlebury (Chile) Corporation Villa Grimaldi
Jennifer Harbury (Washington, DC) Torture Abolition and Survivor Support
Coalition
Bud Welch (Oklahoma City) Murder Victims Families for Human Rights
Members of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows (New York)