FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 94 - ENGLISH

4 EDITORIAL NOTE THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS AS THE BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY Since the publication of the last issue of this magazine, the Victims of Ter- rorism Foundation has moved forward with determination in its commitment: to support the victims, preserve their memory and foster a more aware, just and resilient society. March has brought us back to that commitment to dignity and remembrance. On 6 March, Their Majesties the King and Queen presided over the concert in tribute to the victims of terrorism, a solemn and moving event that once again underlined the Crown’s firm support for those who have suffered terrorist violence. Days later, on 9 and 11 March, we took part in the events organ- ised by the Ministry of the Interior and by victims’ associations and foundations, respectively, to mark the 22nd anniver- sary of the 2004 attacks on the Madrid trains. And on 13 March, Alcobendas once again became—for the second con- secutive year—a place of shared remem- brance, with a memorial service held at the Paco de Lucía Auditorium in the Arts Centre, organised in conjunction with the local council, which is part of the Friends of the Foundation network. All these events—different in form, yet identical in purpose—bring us together around three ideas that underpin our work: remembrance, dignity and the un- equivocal rejection of violence. The close and constant presence of the Head of State lends a symbolism that transcends the ceremony: it embodies public, sus- tained and universal recognition of the victims; a reminder that democracy is also measured by the way it embraces those who were struck by terror. In every concert, wreath-laying and civic cere- mony, the same message resonates: to remember is not to remain anchored in the past, but to commit to a better future built upon what has been experienced. This commitment is also reflected in the Foundation’s exhibition projects, which serve as powerful tools for raising aware- ness and disseminating information. In recent weeks, two new touring exhibi- tions of “The 11 March Attacks. Memory Of Pain And Solidarity ” have opened: one in San Sebastián and the other at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, on the Ciudad Real campus. Both exhibitions invite a profound and respectful reflec- tion on our recent history, its wounds and the civic response that confronted them. These are joined by the exhibition “Fif- ty Years of Lead. 1975–2025, the Bloody Path of GRAPO”, on display at the Ate- neo de Madrid during the first quarter of the year, which rigorously traces the or- ganisation’s criminal history and the re- sponse of the rule of law. When memory is displayed in museums, universities and cultural centres, it becomes educational: it reaches out to the public, engages with- out fanfare and builds awareness. The Foundation maintains a clear and constant objective: to place victims at the centre of public life, defend their rights, preserve their memory and contribute to a society committed to freedom, justice and dignity