FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 94 - ENGLISH

EDUCATION AND MEMORY A SHARED COMMITMENT ` Poster for the course “Putting oneself in the victims’ shoes”, co-organised by the Memorial Centre and the Victims of Terrorism Foundation in 2025, under the direction of Virginia López de Maturana, as part of the UPV/EHU summer courses in San Sebastián. E ducation is a strategic pillar for the Memorial Centre for the Victims of Terrorism and for the Victims of Terrorism Foundation. “This is because the future lies with young people, and be- cause it is essential that terrorism finds no room whatsoever for legitimacy amongst them. Only through direct knowledge of the victims’ testimonies and an ethical understanding of the past can societies be built that stand firm against violence,” states the Memorial Centre’s website. With this premise in mind, both foun- dations have designed a comprehensive academic programme for 2026 as part of the summer courses at five Spanish universities: Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC), University of the Basque Coun- try (UPV/EHU), Complutense Universi- ty of Madrid (UCM), Public University of Navarre (UPNA) and University of Navarre (UNAV). These are key initiatives aimed at teaching staff, university students and the general public, all geared towards strengthening memory through educa- tion. If there is one thread that unites the demands of the victims of terrorism, it is the defence of memory: a complex challenge, but one that cannot be aban- doned. It is not only a moral imperative, but also a commitment to peace, freedom and truth. Memory is the precursor to justice, and preserving it—especially amongst the younger generations—is a collective re- sponsibility. Education, through its trans- formative power, is the most effective tool for looking at the past with truth, build- ing the present with justice and shaping a hopeful future. Educating for coex- istence, by discussing terrorism in the classroom, is both an opportunity and a necessity: it fosters a critical awareness based on respect, rigour and recognition of the victims’ suffering. THE BASQUE COUNTRY, MADRID AND NAVARRA: SETTINGS FOR REFLECTION The 2026 academic tour will visit regions particularly hard-hit by various forms of terrorism: the Basque Country, Madrid and Navarre. ARANJUEZ: CONFRONTING THE JIHADIST THREAT The first event will take place in Aran- juez, on the campus of Rey Juan Carlos University, led by Fernando Reinares, Professor of Political Science and Secu- rity Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute. 64 CULTURE