Coordinating Meeting on Establishing War Victims Committee

A coordination meeting was held regarding the formation of a war victims’ committee with the participation of Dr. Alema, Deputy Minister of Human Rights and Civil Society Organizations of the State Ministry for Peace, and representatives of war victims' rights organizations.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Alema informed the gathering regarding the previous meetings of the State Ministry for Peace with war victims, and said that based on the request of war victims, a committee should be formed to unify war victims and unite their voices.

She stated that the State Ministry for Peace intends to establish this committee based on the suggestions of war victims' rights organizations in order to create a single voice of war victims in the peace process.

She further said that the formation of the committee is much important to work together for war victims’ rights during and after peace agreements, and stressed that the State Ministry for Peace will cooperate in the facilitation for the committee.

Afterward, representatives of war victims' rights organizations presented their suggestions regarding the committee.

They called establishing such a committee much important for the involvement of war victims in the peace process and their participation in peace negotiations, and emphasized that the committee should be inclusive and provide the opportunity for presence of all institutions active in the field of war victims' rights.

They also stated that a number of experts and civil society activists should be in the committee and after formation of the committee, the current sporadic activities should be coordinated.

At the end of the meeting, it was decided to hold a meeting with the participation of all institutions active in the field of war victims' rights, and to consult and exchange views on the formation of this committee.