Empowering victims of terrorism to make their voices heard

In this video, ICCT Associate Fellow Max Boon shows the great work that he and his colleagues are doing in Indonesia, empowering victims of terrorism to play a role in countering violent extremism. 

In 2009, Max Boon became a victim of the Marriott Jakarta terrorist bomb attack where he lost both his legs. Ever since, he has been working together with ICCT – The Hague on efforts to counter violent extremism, focusing on the role victims could and should play in this area. The realisation that counter-terrorism efforts should include the stories of victims of terrorism as well, has recently been growing among national and international policymakers, and has led to the ICCT's Victims' Voices Project in Indonesia. Led by Max Boon, it is the first international effort that attempts to actively and structurally involve victims' voices in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism.

Over the course of 18 months, the project has analysed the ways in which victims can be involved effectively and structurally in the overall struggle against violent extremism and developed guidance and a blueprint on how to connect with, empower and train victims of terrorism to engage in positive outreach. Included in the project was a pilot outreach campaign in central Java, during which victims and former violent extremists engaged with high school students to increase their understanding of the impact of political violence.

The project culminated in the creation of the AIDA Foundation in 2013, founded by Max Boon together with a number of Indonesian community leaders. This Foundation will carry on the work that was initiated by the Victims’ Voices Project, empowering victims of terrorism to get involved in different levels and forms of outreach against violent extremism in Indonesia, as shown in the above video.

A longer version of the video was part of the Dutch programme EenVandaag: http://www.eenvandaag.nl/buitenland/48009/slachtoffer_terrorisme_geeft_voorlichting.

For more information about his work, please click here.