It is inherent to the nature of terrorism the use of violence or threat of violence to influence a State, group of States or international organization. When terrorism strikes democratic societies, it causes victims to destroy the State and its institutions, affecting the coexistence in peace and freedom. There is always a link between the terrorist attack and a state policy on which to influence and in the context of democratic states, the action of the individual or terrorist group is always an attack on democracy and the rule of law.

In this context victims of terrorism are not mere victims of crime. The victims of terrorism are sacrificed on behalf of the State, the true target of the attack. We call for the acknowledgement of the political significance of victims of terrorism by expressly recognizing them as symbols of the defense of the democratic rule of law State vis-à-vis the terrorist threat.

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