Arab states discuss draft law to compensate terrorism victims

A joint committee of experts and representatives of Arab justice and interior ministries met at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League for Arab States in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss a draft law to protect and compensate terrorism victims.

The two day meeting will discuss the implementation of a law in each country to provide economic and social assistance to victims and legislative processes for compensation, lieutenant colonel Turki Al Dhohouri, representative of the UAE ministry of interior, told state news agency WAM.

The first meeting of the committee included about 38 clauses that are indicative but not compulsory with regards to compensation.

The law aims to compensate victims of suicide bombings and kidnappings and those missing, injured and aggrieved as a result of terrorist acts.

The Arab state will also seek to guarantee and promote their rights and provide them with dignified living, as well as establish institutions to protect and monitor victims.

Data from the US-based Global Terrorism Database indicates the Middle East and North Africa has suffered from the most terrorist incidents with 40,422 recorded in comparison to 37,841 in South Asia and 3,268 in North America.