International initiatives and activities focusing specifically on victims of terrorism, including existing international instruments: Assisting victims of terrorism

It is generally known that criminal justice systems around the world feature vast differences. They vary from strictly adversarial systems (e.g. In anglo-saxon countries) to more inquisitorial systems in many jurisdictions on mainland europe. No matter the incompatibilities between the various systems, nowadays they have one thing in common; they all share the ambition of reform on behalf of victims of crime.1 the roots of these reformist efforts can be traced to the final quarter of the twentieth century. In 1985, two documents were issued urging the international community to enhance the status of victims. The first one is the united nations declaration of basic principles of justice for victims of crime and abuse of power.2.