FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 95 - ENGLISH

SUMMER COURSE IN SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL TERRORISM AND SOCIETY: A NECESSARY REFLECTION FROM MEMORY, SECURITY, AND RESILIENCE O n July 6 and 7, 2026, the San Lorenzo de El Escorial venue of the Complutense University of Madrid Summer Courses will host a new edition of the traditional summer course jointly organized by the Victims of Terrorism Foundation and the Me- morial Center for Victims of Terrorism. This edition is entitled "Terrorism and Society" and will be directed by Miguel Ángel Ballesteros, a brigadier general in the Spanish Army and a leading ex- pert on national security and jihadist terrorism. Spain has lived with terrorism for more than six decades. From the sys- tematic violence of ETA and other groups of different ideological signs to the current threat of jihadist terro- rism, our country has suffered directly from a scourge that has struck society as a whole. On March 11, 2004, with 192 fatalities, Spain suffered the lar- gest jihadist attack committed in Eu- rope, an event that left an indelible mark on our recent history. » "The Terrorist Threat from the Sahel," by Jesús Díez Alcalde, colonel and expert onAfrica. » "The Protection of Victims of Terrorism. Har- monizing Victim Legislation in Spain," by Luis Heredero Ortiz de la Tabla, victim of terrorism and author of the book The Legal Protection of Victims of Terrorism in Spain: NewChallenges and Perspectives. » "The Communication of the Terrorist Group Hamas," by Rogelio Alonso Pascual, profes- sor of Political Science at Rey Juan Carlos University. » "TheTreatmentofTerrorismintheEU.TheIm- portance of Social Movements and Initiatives for Civil Liberties and Support for Victims," by Mayte Pagazaurtundua, formerMember of the European Parliament. » "Social Consequences of Terrorism Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," by Francisco Llera Ramo, professor of Political Science atUPVand trustee of the FVT. And among the roundtables: » "The Role of the Media in the Fight against Terrorism," with journalists Pedro Piqueras, Carlos Franganillo, José María Irujo Ama- tria, and Ángel Expósito. » "The Testimony of Victims," with first-per- son voices from victims of terrorism. Fea- tured participants include Alicia Gómez Cuadrado (victim of ETA), Victor Pavón García, and María Esther Sáez González (both victims of jihadist terrorism). Aimed at security professionals, under- graduate and postgraduate students, as well as public officials and others inte- rested in the design of public counter- terrorism policies, this course reaffirms the commitment of the Victims of Te- rrorism Foundation and the Memorial Center to the defense of democratic co- existence, the memory of victims, and society's strength in the face of terror. A necessary meeting to understand the past, analyze the present, and streng- then, through knowledge and respect for victims, the future of a society that nei- ther resigns itself nor bows to terrorism. This summer course is proposed as a space for analysis, reflection, and com- mitment, starting from an undeniable reality: terrorism remains a threat that requires a permanent state of alert, cons- tant risk assessment, and a comprehensi- ve response that goes beyond the strictly police or military sphere. In the face of an asymmetric terrorist strategy that seeks to bend public opinion and erode democratic coexistence, social resilience emerges as the most effective tool. In this context, victims of terrorism oc- cupy a central place. Their dignity, resis- tance, and defense of freedom and the rule of law constitute a moral example for society as a whole and an impassable wall against barbarism. It is no coinci- dence that comprehensive protection for victims is recognized as a fundamental pillar in the 2023 National Counterterro- rism Strategy, currently in force. Over two intensive days, the course will bring together institutional officials, commanders of the Security Forces and Corps, intelligence and security experts, academics, media professionals, and victims of terrorism, creating a plural and high-level program. The course will address the current state of the terro- rist threat, with special attention to the international context and the Sahel, as well as the role of communication, vic- tim protection legislation, the treatment of terrorism in the European Union, and its long-term social consequences. Roundtables will make it possible to con- trast journalistic perspectives and hear firsthand the testimony of victims, whose voice is essential to understanding the hu- man impact of terrorism and strengthe- ning a collective memory based on truth, justice, and dignity. Among the lectures and speakers: » "Counterterrorism in Spain Today," by Javier Marín, head of CITCO. Link to the course program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10sjK2EwlR6uE_AiHq9UFo_vAOMvyoIbq/view 78 CULTURE