Belgian Federal Ministry of Justice
V-Europe operates under a mandate from the Belgian Federal Ministry of Justice , which is reflected in two main roles:
1. Representation of Terrorism Victims: V-Europe is officially recognized by royal decree as an association authorized to represent victims of terrorism before the Financial Assistance Commission. This recognition allows the organization to advocate for victims' rights and ensure their claims are addressed effectively.
2. Coordinators Program: The Ministry of Justice funds a victim support initiative managed by V-Europe, known as the "Coordinators Program." This program provides personalized assistance to terrorism victims, addressing their emotional, legal, and administrative needs, while reducing bureaucratic burdens.
These roles align with V-Europe's broader mission to support victims of terrorism, particularly those affected by attacks in Belgium or Belgian citizens impacted abroad, ensuring their long-term recovery and reintegration into society.
Fédération Bruxelles et Wallonie
Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB) has played a crucial role in supporting V-Europe's mission to assist victims of terrorism. Since 2017, through joint actions approved by ministerial agreements, FWB has enabled V-Europe to provide concrete aid to victims, particularly those affected by the March 22, 2016, attacks in Brussels and Zaventem.
1. Support for the March 22 Trial: In 2023 and 2024, FWB's support allowed V-Europe to offer direct assistance to civil parties involved in the trial of the March 22 attacks. This included moral and human support, as well as exceptional activities aimed at fostering solidarity and connection among victims. These initiatives strengthened social cohesion, promoted mutual support, and helped victims move beyond their victim status to reintegrate into society with dignity and pride.
2. Daily Operations: FWB's backing has also been essential for the daily management of V-Europe, ensuring the smooth execution of its activities and programs.
Looking ahead, V-Europe aims to deepen its collaboration with FWB, particularly as the 10th anniversary of the March 22 attacks approaches. By working closely with regional services, V-Europe seeks to enhance its expertise and responsibilities in supporting victims, further strengthening social cohesion during these challenging times.
EC Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs
V-Europe and Collaboration with the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) & EU Knowledge Hub
V-Europe operates under the mandate of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) to support the EU Knowledge Hub, a dynamic platform advancing expertise, coordination, and innovation in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE). This platform builds on the foundational work of the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN)—a DG HOME initiative that united practitioners across Europe to combat radicalization. The Knowledge Hub consolidates lessons learned, fosters cross-border collaboration, and drives evidence-based strategies to address evolving security challenges.
Since 2017, V-Europe has been actively engaged in RAN activities, with Philippe Vansteenkiste, Director of V-Europe, playing a pivotal role. From 2020 to 2024, Philippe co-led the RAN Working Group on Victims/Survivors of Terrorism, amplifying victim-centered perspectives to ensure that survivors’ lived experiences inform the design and implementation of P/CVE policies. Through his leadership, V-Europe has contributed significantly to transforming RAN into the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention, which now integrates researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to develop evidence-based strategies and improve prevention measures across Europe.
In this new structure, our Director has been appointed Special Advisor for Victims of Terrorism, ensuring that victims’ voices are represented across all thematic platforms in the fight against terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism. By bridging policy and practice, we empower EU stakeholders to integrate survivor insights into human-rights-based security frameworks, ensuring prevention strategies remain robust and victim-centered.
Through its collaboration with DG HOME and the Knowledge Hub, V-Europe strengthens the EU’s counter-terrorism architecture by advocating for policies that emphasize prevention, resilience, and the dignity of victims. This work ensures that victims’ voices not only contribute to shaping strategies but also help safeguard communities while upholding democratic values and human rights.
EC Directorate-General for Justice
V-Europe actively contributes to advancing victim support at the European level through its involvement in key initiatives under the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice. Within the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism (EUCVT), V-Europe plays a significant role in shaping policies, resources, and training programs for professionals, tailored to the needs of terrorism victims. By ensuring that survivors’ voices are central to these efforts, V-Europe helps develop effective and harmonized support frameworks across the EU.
Additionally, V-Europe participates in the Victims’ Rights Platform, a collaborative initiative that brings together policymakers, justice institutions, and civil society to advocate for the rights of all crime victims. Through this platform, V-Europe represents the voices of all European Victims of Terrorism, emphasizing the importance of victim-centered approaches in EU legislation, ensuring that survivors’ perspectives are reflected in areas such as compensation access and procedural safeguards.
By bridging these two initiatives, V-Europe strengthens the EU’s commitment to providing compassionate and effective responses to terrorism and crime, ensuring that victims’ needs remain a priority in both specialized support systems and broader rights-based policies.
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), established in 2017, aims to strengthen international coordination in the fight against terrorism. It supports member states by developing policies, programs, and capacities to prevent violent extremism, enhance security, and protect victims of terrorism.V-Europe has been actively engaged with UNOCT since its creation, contributing to several key initiatives and forums addressing victims of terrorism and human rights-compliant counter-terrorism strategies. This includes:
- Participating in the development of the guide for good practices for associations of terrorism victims.
- Testifying at the United Nations Congress in New York.
- Bringing together victims of terrorism.
- Supporting the development of UNOCT programs.
- Advocating for victim-centered approaches and the integration of survivors’ perspectives into policy frameworks.
In 2024, V-Europe represented the Belgian delegation, under the responsibility of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Justice and in collaboration with the FPS Foreign Affairs, at the United Nations International Conference on Victims of Terrorism. Furthermore, V-Europe has been actively involved in the creation of the VoTAN (Victims of Terrorism Association Network) project, which is now in its final stages of development.
Philippe Vansteenkiste, Director of V-Europe and Guillaume Denoix de Saint Marc, vice president of V-Europe, have played a prominent role in UNOCT-led discussions, emphasizing the need to align counter-terrorism efforts with human rights and the rule of law. Their leadership ensure that the lived experiences of victims inform international counter-terrorism policies, safeguarding victims’ rights and fostering resilient societies through inclusive and human-rights-based strategies.
V-Europe’s involvement highlights its pivotal role in bridging European expertise with global counter-terrorism discourse, ensuring that lessons learned from victim support initiatives inform broader international efforts. This collaboration reflects shared priorities—advancing victim-centered approaches, strengthening resilience, and promoting justice in the fight against terrorism.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
V-Europe has been collaborating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on initiatives focused on preventing radicalization in prisons and sharing good practices for rehabilitation. This partnership addresses the risks of extremist ideologies spreading in prisons and promotes effective prevention strategies.
Key Points:
- V-Europe has worked on best practices in tackling radicalization within prison systems.
- Communication with UNODC remains active to ensure alignment on terrorism prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
This ongoing collaboration underscores V-Europe's significant role in European and international counter-terrorism efforts, focusing on prevention and victim advocacy.
FIAVT
Fédération Internationale des Associations de Victimes du Terrorisme
Founded in 2011, the International Federation of Associations of Victims of Terrorism (FIAVT), also known by its English acronym IFAVT (International Federation of Associations of Victims of Terrorism), is an organization that brings together associations of victims of terrorism from around the world. Its primary goal is to strengthen international cooperation among these associations to defend victims’ rights and promote their recognition by national and international institutions.
FIAVT plays a key role in facilitating the exchange of good practices in areas such as support, remembrance, and resilience, allowing member associations to benefit from shared experiences and tailored solutions that address the specific needs of victims. By integrating victims’ voices into public policies and prevention initiatives, the federation actively contributes to combating extremism and developing effective counter-terrorism strategies.
By uniting various associations worldwide, particularly supporting African and Middle Eastern associations, FIAVT aims to amplify the voice of terrorism victims on the international stage, ensuring greater recognition and broader consideration of their needs and contributions to society.
V-Europe holds a seat on FIAVT’s Board of Directors and focuses on supporting associations facing significant challenges in terms of recognition and survival. This is especially critical as many of these associations operate in countries heavily impacted by terrorism, where they have the potential to play a crucial role in preventing radicalization and countering terrorism. FIAVT is committed to strengthening these organizations—particularly in countries such as Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya—by providing essential support to ensure their recognition and sustainability, while highlighting their contributions to stability and security in their regions.